ISIL supporters celebrate Manchester attack on social media

Part of the explosion scene. 

There has been no official claim of responsibility for the Manchester attack from any terror group but supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) celebrated the bombing on social media.
Isil supporters hailed the bombing as a victory against "the crusaders" of the West. In one video an English-speaking supporter of Isil held up a homemade sign with the word "Manchester" and the date of the attack.

"This is only the beginning. The lions of Islamic State of Iraq and Sham are beginning to attack all the crusaders," the masked man said in the short video.

Other Isil supporters said the attack was revenge for the UK's involvement in the bombing campaign against Isil in Iraq and Syria. "It seems that the bombs of the British airforce over children of Mosul and Raqqa has just come back to Manchester," wrote one user.

Michael S. Smith II, a US-based terrorism analyst said the celebrations on Isil social media groups were a "strong indicator" that the attack may be linked to the jihadist group.

See tweets below:

Here's the English version of Islamic State's official statement re the #Manchester attack pic.twitter.com/2KYeJZLiNn

— Michael S. Smith II (@MichaelSSmithII) May 23, 2017

SCREENSHOTS Examples of #Manchester attack celebrated on Pro-Islamic State Yaqeen Media Telegram channel pic.twitter.com/oLuyKtylbW

— Michael S. Smith II (@MichaelSSmithII) May 23, 2017