Manchester attack: Soldiers on Britain's streets guard 'key locations' as police probe terror 'network'
Armed troops have been deployed on UK streets at ‘key locations’ including Downing Street in the wake of the Manchester bombing, as police investigate a potential ‘network’ of terrorists.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the Manchester bomb attack that killed at least 22 people as the official terror threat level was raised to critical – the highest level – by Theresa May.
Twenty-two people were killed and dozens injured at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester on Monday night.
The man suspected of carrying out the attack has been identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who was born in Manchester to Libyan parents and had links to Isis.
The three were detained after police executed warrants in south Manchester.
A total of four people have now been arrested as part of the inquiry into the atrocity as a huge investigation gathers pace.
UK at ‘critical’ threat
The decision to raise the terror threat level means military personnel could be deployed to guard concert venues and sports stadiums.
Armed troops will be deployed to guard “key locations” such as Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and embassies, Scotland Yard has confirmed.
Soldiers will replace armed police at many sites, freeing them up for patrols in key areas under Operation Temperer, which is being enacted after security experts warned the government that another terrorist attack could be imminent.
It is the first time the most serious rating has been reached for nearly a decade.
The move reflects fears that a “wider group of individuals” may have been involved in the attack – including the bomb-maker who provided Abedi with his deadly device.
Following Monday’s blast, the Government has activated Operation Temperer, providing up to 3,800 troops to support the police in their security operations.
Read more: What does a ‘critical’ terror threat mean?
Ms Rudd said the move was temporary but refused to be drawn on how long the heightened state of alert would remain in place.
“It is an ongoing operation which means that the investigation is continuing to find leads,” she said.
“So until we can be reassured that there is no continued activity around this operation, that it is entirely safe around this operation, then it is right that we are at this heightened state of alert.
Latest updates
The latest arrests were announced by Greater Manchester Police as:
France’s interior minister disclosed that Abedi, 22, is believed to have travelled to Syria and claimed he had “proven” links with the so-called Islamic State;
Home Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed UK security services had been aware of the British-born attacker;
Military personnel were being deployed to key sites after the official threat assessment was raised to critical, the highest level, indicating that a further attack may be imminent;
A Polish couple who had gone to the venue to collect their daughters were revealed to be among those killed;
PR manager Martyn Hett was the latest person to be named as a victim of the atrocity.
Read more: Video shows moment of explosion
The victims
A young girl and a college student were among the first to be named.
Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos was described by the headteacher at her school in Preston as a “beautiful little girl”.
Another victim was identified as Georgina Callander, who was studying health and social care at Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire.
What they said: How the world reacted
“Evil losers” – President Donald Trump’s description of the Manchester terrorist attackers.
“The spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain is far mightier than the sick plots of depraved terrorists” – The Prime Minister.
“But the message from me would be, we must not be unduly alarmed, we must continue to get back to normal, and in the end that’s the best message because we must send it out clearly that we will not be beaten, we will not be divided, and we will stand together” – Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester.
“He was always friendly, nothing to suggest he was violent. He was normal, to be honest” – An unnamed family friend of Salman Abedi, named as the Manchester bomber.
“We are moving at pace, we are making arrests, we are doing searches but, not unsurprisingly, there are still gaps in our knowledge. Whilst we are chasing those gaps down, on a precautionary basis, based on that judgment, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, have made this judgment about the threat level and we will respond in our policing stance to that decision” – Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, Britain’s senior anti-terrorist police officer on the raising of the threat level to “critical”.
“Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says the attack is the work of an ‘extremist’. An extreme what? An extreme rabbit?” – Singer Morrissey.
“Theresa May says such attacks ‘will not break us’ but her own life is lived in a bullet-proof bubble, and she evidently does not need to identify any young people today in Manchester morgues. Also, ‘will not break us’ means that the tragedy will not break her, or her policies on immigration. The young people of Manchester are already broken – thanks all the same, Theresa” – Morrissey.
”Scotland stands together, in solidarity, with the people of Manchester – we will not be divided by those who seek to destroy our way of life” – Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister.
“Last night, in the most atrocious circumstances, the people of Greater Manchester showed the world how much we care. How much we care about each other and how much we were prepared to help those in need”- Greater Manchester Police chief Ian Hopkins, speaking at the Manchester vigil.
“When the chips are down, Manchester always pulls together. I personally just want to make a stand that, even if my friends felt a bit nervous, I felt it was very important to prove that I won’t be beaten, intimidated” – Lu Bowen, 40, who brought flowers to the vigil.
Read more about the Manchester terror attack:
Video shows moment concert-goers flee in terror
Eyewitness accounts: ‘There was carnage’
First victim names as Georgina Callander
Mum breaks down during desperate appeal to find daughter
People in Manchester open their homes to help those affected
