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Next version
| Version 44 | Version 45 |
|---|---|
| Manchester Arena bombing: soldiers on British streets as threat level raised to critical – live news | Manchester Arena bombing: soldiers on British streets as threat level raised to critical – live news |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.09am BST | |
| 02:09 | |
| Kelly Brewster named as victim | |
| Another victim of the Manchester bomb has been named. | |
| Kelly Brewster, who was 32, died in the blast, her family confirmed to the Daily Mail. | |
| Brewster had attended the Ariana Grande concert with her sister Claire and niece, Hollie Booth. They were both injured in the attack and are being treated in hospital. | |
| Friends of Brewster have paid tribute to her on on social media. Her uncle, Paul Dryhurst, earlier described how she had been caught up in the blast: | |
| Kelly has shielded Hollie and Claire from the damage. The three were walking out in single file, with Claire in front, Hollie behind her, and Kelly behind her. | |
| When the bomb has gone off the impact has broken Claire’s jaw and broken Hollie’s legs. They are both currently in hospital having nuts and bolts removed from all places. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.10am BST | |
| 1.38am BST | 1.38am BST |
| 01:38 | 01:38 |
| Killer had recently visited Libya – reports | Killer had recently visited Libya – reports |
| There are reports tonight that Salman Abedi, named as the perpetrator of the attack, had visited Libya recently, with some saying he returned to the UK only days before he killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena. | There are reports tonight that Salman Abedi, named as the perpetrator of the attack, had visited Libya recently, with some saying he returned to the UK only days before he killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena. |
| The Times reports that he spent time in Libya, citing an unnamed school friend: | The Times reports that he spent time in Libya, citing an unnamed school friend: |
| He went to Libya three weeks ago and came back recently, like days ago. | He went to Libya three weeks ago and came back recently, like days ago. |
| Abedi was British, but his family is from Libya. The Guardian understands that his father, Abu Ismail Abedi, is thought to be in Tripoli. | Abedi was British, but his family is from Libya. The Guardian understands that his father, Abu Ismail Abedi, is thought to be in Tripoli. |
| The Sun reports that Salman Abedi may have used trips to Libya to travel to Syria. This has not been confirmed. | The Sun reports that Salman Abedi may have used trips to Libya to travel to Syria. This has not been confirmed. |
| 1.17am BST | 1.17am BST |
| 01:17 | 01:17 |
| The Guardian’s Wednesday front page, as with many others, focuses on the lives lost in the attack: | The Guardian’s Wednesday front page, as with many others, focuses on the lives lost in the attack: |
| The Guardian front page, Wednesday 24.05.17: Young lives stolen by terror pic.twitter.com/xmrYtR6o3H | The Guardian front page, Wednesday 24.05.17: Young lives stolen by terror pic.twitter.com/xmrYtR6o3H |
| 1.09am BST | 1.09am BST |
| 01:09 | 01:09 |
| A third meeting of the Scottish government’s resilience committee was held late on Tuesday to discuss the implications of raising the UK threat level to its highest “critical” level, Press Association reports: | A third meeting of the Scottish government’s resilience committee was held late on Tuesday to discuss the implications of raising the UK threat level to its highest “critical” level, Press Association reports: |
| Police Scotland have increased their presence, including armed officers, at locations such as transport hubs and city centres as a “precautionary measure”. | Police Scotland have increased their presence, including armed officers, at locations such as transport hubs and city centres as a “precautionary measure”. |
| The force will review security for all events taking place in Scotland in the next two weeks, including the Scottish cup final at Hampden on Saturday. | The force will review security for all events taking place in Scotland in the next two weeks, including the Scottish cup final at Hampden on Saturday. |
| The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: | The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: |
| There is no intelligence of an increased risk to Scotland and this remains the case, but we should continue to stay vigilant. | There is no intelligence of an increased risk to Scotland and this remains the case, but we should continue to stay vigilant. |
| Police Scotland are providing support to the families of Laura MacIntyre and Eilidh MacLeod from Barra. Both families have asked for privacy at this difficult time. Our thoughts go out to them and to the families of everyone who has been caught up in this tragedy. | Police Scotland are providing support to the families of Laura MacIntyre and Eilidh MacLeod from Barra. Both families have asked for privacy at this difficult time. Our thoughts go out to them and to the families of everyone who has been caught up in this tragedy. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Laura MacIntyre, 15, is being treated in hospital for serious injuries. | Laura MacIntyre, 15, is being treated in hospital for serious injuries. |
| Her friend Eilidh MacLeod, 14, is still missing. | Her friend Eilidh MacLeod, 14, is still missing. |
| 12.50am BST | 12.50am BST |
| 00:50 | 00:50 |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog again. | This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog again. |
| Soldiers will be sent on to the streets after the UK threat level was raised from severe to critical, meaning “not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent”. | Soldiers will be sent on to the streets after the UK threat level was raised from severe to critical, meaning “not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent”. |
| You can read our full report on that here. | You can read our full report on that here. |
| Three of the 22 people killed in the attack have been named: 16-year-old Georgina Callander, 26-year-old John Atkinson and Saffie Rose Roussos, eight. You can read about them here. | Three of the 22 people killed in the attack have been named: 16-year-old Georgina Callander, 26-year-old John Atkinson and Saffie Rose Roussos, eight. You can read about them here. |
| The attacker has been identified as Salman Abedi, 22. Our report on him and the background police are investigating is here. | The attacker has been identified as Salman Abedi, 22. Our report on him and the background police are investigating is here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.29am BST | at 1.29am BST |
| 12.04am BST | 12.04am BST |
| 00:04 | 00:04 |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has issued a statement on what the critical terror threat means for London: | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has issued a statement on what the critical terror threat means for London: |
| The national threat level has now been raised to 'critical'. Read my statement on what this means for London: https://t.co/fz19o1GuMk pic.twitter.com/PFz8iwpx9M | The national threat level has now been raised to 'critical'. Read my statement on what this means for London: https://t.co/fz19o1GuMk pic.twitter.com/PFz8iwpx9M |
| 11.57pm BST | 11.57pm BST |
| 23:57 | 23:57 |
| Salman Abedi pictured | Salman Abedi pictured |
| Nazia Parveen | Nazia Parveen |
| This is one of the first pictures of Manchester suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, taken during an Islamic class at the Didsbury mosque. | This is one of the first pictures of Manchester suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, taken during an Islamic class at the Didsbury mosque. |
| A much younger Abedi can be seen sat cross-legged, dressed in a camouflage-type jacket and reading the Quran. | A much younger Abedi can be seen sat cross-legged, dressed in a camouflage-type jacket and reading the Quran. |
| 11.39pm BST | 11.39pm BST |
| 23:39 | 23:39 |
| Helena Smith | Helena Smith |
| In London the Cyprus high commission is flying flags at half mast in honour of Saffie Roussos, the British Cypriot who at aged eight has been identified as the youngest victim of the Manchester attack. | In London the Cyprus high commission is flying flags at half mast in honour of Saffie Roussos, the British Cypriot who at aged eight has been identified as the youngest victim of the Manchester attack. |
| The Cyprus News Agency reports that Saffie’s relatives, including her father, Andreas, who was born in Cyprus but subsequently moved to Liverpool, is tonight travelling to the UK from the Mediterranean island. | The Cyprus News Agency reports that Saffie’s relatives, including her father, Andreas, who was born in Cyprus but subsequently moved to Liverpool, is tonight travelling to the UK from the Mediterranean island. |
| Saffie was at the concert with her mother, Lisa, and older sister Ashlee Bromwich, in her twenties, both of whom are now being treated in hospital for injuries. | Saffie was at the concert with her mother, Lisa, and older sister Ashlee Bromwich, in her twenties, both of whom are now being treated in hospital for injuries. |
| The Cyprus high commissioner, Euripides Evriviades tweeted: “Total inadequacy of words in expressing massive sympathy to bereaved family. RIP to 8 y/o angel Saffie-Rose Roussos.” | The Cyprus high commissioner, Euripides Evriviades tweeted: “Total inadequacy of words in expressing massive sympathy to bereaved family. RIP to 8 y/o angel Saffie-Rose Roussos.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.52pm BST | at 11.52pm BST |
| 11.28pm BST | 11.28pm BST |
| 23:28 | 23:28 |
| Vikram Dodd | Vikram Dodd |
| Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said the doubt about whether a wider group was involved in the Manchester attack led to the decision to raise the threat level. | Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said the doubt about whether a wider group was involved in the Manchester attack led to the decision to raise the threat level. |
| “The public would expect the police to do everything possible to prevent further attacks and keep them safe. We are flexing our resources to increase police presence at key sites, such as transport and other crowded places and we are reviewing key events over the coming weeks,” Rowley said. | “The public would expect the police to do everything possible to prevent further attacks and keep them safe. We are flexing our resources to increase police presence at key sites, such as transport and other crowded places and we are reviewing key events over the coming weeks,” Rowley said. |
| He is the UK’s most senior counter-terrorism officer and hinted that the use of emergency powers had been used for only a short period previously: “Critical is a very unusual and rare step.” | He is the UK’s most senior counter-terrorism officer and hinted that the use of emergency powers had been used for only a short period previously: “Critical is a very unusual and rare step.” |
| Rowley added that there was following the Manchester attack there was now an “intense period of risk”, justifying the special measures that will see “far more” police officers on the streets. | Rowley added that there was following the Manchester attack there was now an “intense period of risk”, justifying the special measures that will see “far more” police officers on the streets. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.30pm BST | at 11.30pm BST |
| 11.17pm BST | 11.17pm BST |
| 23:17 | 23:17 |
| Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the UK’s most senior anti-terror officer, has also issued a statement tonight: | Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the UK’s most senior anti-terror officer, has also issued a statement tonight: |
| “The investigation into the terrorist attack in Manchester is large scale, fast moving and making good progress. There has been an arrest and there are currently multiple searches and other activity taking place as I speak. However, at this stage it is still not possible to be certain if there was a wider group involved in the attack; 24 hours in we have a number of investigative leads that we are pursuing to manage the ongoing threat. | “The investigation into the terrorist attack in Manchester is large scale, fast moving and making good progress. There has been an arrest and there are currently multiple searches and other activity taking place as I speak. However, at this stage it is still not possible to be certain if there was a wider group involved in the attack; 24 hours in we have a number of investigative leads that we are pursuing to manage the ongoing threat. |
| “This concern has led to the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to raise the threat level to ‘critical’ this evening. It means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent. | “This concern has led to the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre to raise the threat level to ‘critical’ this evening. It means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent. |
| “The public would expect the police to do everything possible to prevent further attacks and keep them safe. We are flexing our resources to increase police presence at key sites, such as transport and other crowded places and we are reviewing key events over the coming weeks. | “The public would expect the police to do everything possible to prevent further attacks and keep them safe. We are flexing our resources to increase police presence at key sites, such as transport and other crowded places and we are reviewing key events over the coming weeks. |
| “As the prime minister has already said this evening I have asked for support from the military to be deployed alongside the police. This will free up armed officers from certain guarding duties to release our officers to support the wider the response. This is part of an agreed and well-rehearsed plan and military personnel will remain under the command and control of the police service. | “As the prime minister has already said this evening I have asked for support from the military to be deployed alongside the police. This will free up armed officers from certain guarding duties to release our officers to support the wider the response. This is part of an agreed and well-rehearsed plan and military personnel will remain under the command and control of the police service. |
| “At this time we are asking the public to remain calm but alert. If you see anything that causes you concern, then let us know immediately, if you have suspicions about someone’s behaviour call us. Look out for anything that seems out of place, unusual or doesn’t seem to fit in with day-to-day life. It may be nothing but if you see or hear anything that could be terrorist related trust your instinct no matter how small then act and call 999.” | “At this time we are asking the public to remain calm but alert. If you see anything that causes you concern, then let us know immediately, if you have suspicions about someone’s behaviour call us. Look out for anything that seems out of place, unusual or doesn’t seem to fit in with day-to-day life. It may be nothing but if you see or hear anything that could be terrorist related trust your instinct no matter how small then act and call 999.” |