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Manchester Arena bombing: thousands gather for vigil at Albert Square – latest updates Manchester Arena bombing: thousands gather for vigil in city centre – live news
(35 minutes later)
7.48pm BST
19:48
The prime minister, Theresa May, is now chairing a second meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee in Whitehall.
It is understood that campaigning for the general election will remain suspended on Wednesday.
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7.39pm BST
19:39
BBC reporter Kathryn Stanczyszyn tweets from Birmingham:
Perimeter put in place around #Birmingham #VictoriaSquare after some kind of incident - shouting was heard during #Vigil @bbcwm pic.twitter.com/euMgqurIp8
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7.34pm BST
19:34
A vigil in Birmingham for the Manchester Arena victims has been interrupted after a man apparently armed with a large knife and a baseball bat was detained nearby, Press Association reports.
7.26pm BST
19:26
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham tweets:
Thank you Manchester. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/d88atzvDwb
7.16pm BST7.16pm BST
19:1619:16
Police find CCTV video of bomberPolice find CCTV video of bomber
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
Police are understood to have recovered CCTV video of the bomber walking into Manchester Arena where he detonated a bomb. It shows the explosion was deliberate and caused by a suicide device, believed to be contained in a bag, a source said. Police are understood to have recovered CCTV video of the bomber walking into Manchester Arena where he detonated a bomb. It shows the explosion was deliberate and caused by a device that it is believed was contained in a bag, a source said.
The device is described as homemade and crude. It was stable enough to be transported and explode with devastating effect and was believed to have been constructed in Britain. The device is described as homemade and crude. It was stable enough to be transported and exploded with devastating effect. It is believed to have been constructed in Britain.
The attacker had an identity document on him, sources said. The man named by police - Salman Abedi - was born to parents from Libya who came to Britain to flee the Gadaffi regime. The attacker had an identity document on him, sources said. The man named by police – Salman Abedi – was born to parents from Libya who came to Britain to flee the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.
One senior security source described the attack involving the acquisition and construction of a bomb as “a game changer” that has “rocked us backwards”, because a successful bomb plot has not occurred in the UK since 2005. One senior security source described the attack involving the acquisition and construction of a bomb as “a gamechanger” that has “rocked us backwards” because a successful bomb plot has not occurred in the UK since 2005.
Adding to that is uncertainty among investigators about whether Abedi built the bomb himself, or had help. GMP chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.” There is uncertainty among investigators about whether Abedi built the bomb himself, or had help. GMP’s chief constable, Ian Hopkins, said: “The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”
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7.03pm BST7.03pm BST
19:0319:03
Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
Family friends of Laura MacIntyre, 15, the schoolgirl from Barra who went missing last night with her close friend Eilidh MacLeod, say she is in hospital with very serious burns. “We’re just getting confirmation of that ourselves,” said Donald Manford, a local councillor and great uncle of Eilidh. “She is very seriously injured and ill.”Family friends of Laura MacIntyre, 15, the schoolgirl from Barra who went missing last night with her close friend Eilidh MacLeod, say she is in hospital with very serious burns. “We’re just getting confirmation of that ourselves,” said Donald Manford, a local councillor and great uncle of Eilidh. “She is very seriously injured and ill.”
Manford said he had yet to hear any word about Eilidh, 14. “She’s a very vibrant young person, who’s very involved in the community. When we have ceilidhs, she’s a dancer and a piper,” he said earlier. “It’s a very anxious time.”Manford said he had yet to hear any word about Eilidh, 14. “She’s a very vibrant young person, who’s very involved in the community. When we have ceilidhs, she’s a dancer and a piper,” he said earlier. “It’s a very anxious time.”
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at 7.17pm BSTat 7.17pm BST
6.59pm BST6.59pm BST
18:5918:59
Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona tweets:Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona tweets:
A message from Eric Cantona to the people of Manchester: "I suffer with you. My heart is with you."pic.twitter.com/2nDNiaMmR6A message from Eric Cantona to the people of Manchester: "I suffer with you. My heart is with you."pic.twitter.com/2nDNiaMmR6
6.54pm BST6.54pm BST
18:5418:54
Addressing the crowd at the vigil, GMP’s Ian Hopkins said: “As your chief constable of Greater Manchester and as a father I cannot begin to imagine how anyone can carry out such an unthinkable act – murdering 22 people and injuring 59 – and my thoughts and those of my colleague are very much with their families at this incredibly difficult time.”Addressing the crowd at the vigil, GMP’s Ian Hopkins said: “As your chief constable of Greater Manchester and as a father I cannot begin to imagine how anyone can carry out such an unthinkable act – murdering 22 people and injuring 59 – and my thoughts and those of my colleague are very much with their families at this incredibly difficult time.”
He continued: “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. And I’ve heard some tremendous stories of doctors coming in to support and police officers, ambulance workers giving up their days off turning up to help those in need.”He continued: “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. And I’ve heard some tremendous stories of doctors coming in to support and police officers, ambulance workers giving up their days off turning up to help those in need.”
Senior figures who attended the Manchester event included the home secretary Amber Rudd, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.Senior figures who attended the Manchester event included the home secretary Amber Rudd, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.
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6.43pm BST6.43pm BST
18:4318:43
An appeal set up today by the Manchester Evening News has now raised more than £500,000.An appeal set up today by the Manchester Evening News has now raised more than £500,000.
This is incredible. https://t.co/4IGf25Qa7R pic.twitter.com/ZMr8yjQt5JThis is incredible. https://t.co/4IGf25Qa7R pic.twitter.com/ZMr8yjQt5J
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6.37pm BST6.37pm BST
18:3718:37
The alert over a suspicious package found at Salford University has turned out to be a false alarm.The alert over a suspicious package found at Salford University has turned out to be a false alarm.
Police have confirmed we can now reopen buildings with immediate effect and the @createatsalford Fashion Show will go ahead as planned.(1/2)Police have confirmed we can now reopen buildings with immediate effect and the @createatsalford Fashion Show will go ahead as planned.(1/2)
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6.33pm BST
18:33
The vigil has ended but a man is chanting "there is a light and it never goes out". #manchester
6.31pm BST
18:31
Manchester City Council and the British Red Cross have launched an appeal for those injured or bereaved by the Manchester attack. The lord mayor of Manchester, Councillor Eddy Newman, said the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund will make payments to help families in need, including those faced with funeral costs and individuals who may have suffered life-limiting injuries.
“The fund has been established after countless people, from Manchester and from around the world, expressed their desire to help,” he said. “We are incredibly grateful to the huge amount of people reaching out to offer their support.”
The British Red Cross have kicked off the appeal with a £50,000 donation. To donate go to www.redcross.org.uk/manchester or call 0300 456 4999.
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6.26pm BST
18:26
Helen Pidd is at the vigil:
The poet Tony Walsh will read his gorgeous ode to Manchester, This Is The Place; "Make us a brew while you're up, love, go on..." pic.twitter.com/o0CfdGD6ax
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6.23pm BST
18:23
There has just been a minute’s silence held at the vigil for the 22 people who were killed last night.
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6.18pm BST
18:18
Thousands at Manchester vigil. Those at back can't hear what's been said but unanimous applause breaking out. pic.twitter.com/bVEMqDraVr
Those attending the vigil include the former England cricket captain Freddie Flintoff.
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6.13pm BST
18:13
Nazia Parveen
The moment police blast open door of suicide bomb suspect's home- Video. https://t.co/8IaoyJz1g8
Officers raided the house on Elsmore Road, which is the registered address of Salman Abedi. He has now been named as the man believed to be responsible for the arena atrocity.
A squad of police are seen carrying out a controlled explosion to blast down the front door of the property off Wilbraham Road in Fallowfield at 11.30am on Tuesday.
This video, taken by resident Theo Brown, shows police preparing to go into the property. A number of armed officers are seen waiting for the controlled explosion before raiding the home.
6.04pm BST
18:04
Staff and students at Salford University have been told to leave buildings on the campus.
Buildings being evacuated on Peel Park campus; New Adelphi, Lady Hale and Clifford Whitworth library. Please follow instructions from staff.
However, we have no more detail at this stage and it is not clear why the evacuations are taking place.
5.59pm BST
17:59
The former US president tweets:
Our hearts go out to those killed and wounded in Manchester. Americans will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of the UK.
5.45pm BST
17:45
The Guardian’s North of England editor, Helen Pidd, is at the vigil, which officially begins at 6pm.
Manchester's Albert Square is full with thousands of people here to show solidarity with their fellow Mancunians pic.twitter.com/n9VmK9JRUf
Just spoke to Amir Shah, Manchester born & bred. "I'm not here as a person with brown skin or someone born Muslim. I'm here as a Mancunian."
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5.42pm BST
17:42
Josh Halliday
It is understood that Ian Hopkins, the Greater Manchester police chief constable, was involved in high-level meetings with counter-terrorism officials about identifying Salman Abedi until moments before he stepped outside the force headquarters.
Hopkins had been due to give an update at 4.30pm, but that was hastily delayed after Abedi was named by the Press Association, which became the first UK news organisation to name the suspected bomber.
Hours earlier, the force had warned news organisations that naming any possibly suspect could hamper the ongoing investigation into Monday night’s atrocity.
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