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Manchester bombing: more victims named as threat level is raised to critical – live news Manchester bombing: more victims named as threat level is raised to critical – live news
(35 minutes later)
8.23am BST
08:23
Q: Some people will say that, with this happening just before an election, it is opportunistic.
Rudd says the decision to raise the threat level was taken by an independent body.
Q: Some people think Tpims (terrorism prevention and investigation measures) need to be strengthened.
Rudd says the time to consider this will be after the investigation is over. But the police have not asked for extra powers, she says.
Q: And how would you respond to a request for extra powers?
Rudd says the government will always ensure the services are supported.
Q: People will say this event is of a different magnitude from what has happened before.
Rudd says she is focusing on making sure the police have the help they need now. After the investigation, she will consider if there are lessons to be learnt.
Q: Do you accept that Prevent has been seen as a form of spying by some communities.
Rudd says some people don’t like Prevent. But last year 150 people were stopped from travelling to Syria by Prevent, 50 of whom were children.
That’s it.
Updated
at 8.24am BST
8.19am BST
08:19
Q: Can you tell us any more about Salman Abedi?
Rudd says she cannot.
Q: Do we know that Islamic State directed this operation?
Rudd says we do not know that yet.
Q: Are you worried about the information coming out from the US?
Rudd says the British authorities want to control the information that is coming out. It is “irritating” when information comes out from other countries. She says she has made it clear to the Americans that this must not happen again.
Q: Has it compromised the operation?
Rudd says she would not go that far.
Rudd criticises American authorities for releasing information about the Manchester investigation to the media. It was “irritating”, she said, and she revealed that the Americans have been told it must not happen again.
8.16am BST
08:16
Andrew Sparrow
Amber Rudd, the home secretary, has already given an interview to Sky News (see 7.55am). She is now being interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Q: Do you know another attack is imminent?
Rudd says, if the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre says an attack may be imminent, the government will support that assessment.
Q: You said in other interviews that Salman Abedi was known “up to a point”. What does that mean?
Rudd says the security services know a lot of people. But they cannot arrest everyone.
Q: Do the security services have all the powers they need?
Rudd says she thinks they do. They have constantly reassured her that they have the money and the laws that they need.
Q: The military will now be joining the police. Did the police ask for help?
Rudd says this is a protocol that is in place to allow the military to support the police when that is needed. The army will be “backfilling”, to allow the police to focus on other areas. The government “fully expects” this to be temporary, she says.
She repeats the point. This is a temporary arrangement in response to an exceptional event.
Updated
at 8.25am BST
8.13am BST
08:13
Josh Halliday
A police cordon was still in place on Wednesday morning in the suburban cul-de-sac where Salman Abedi lived in Fallowfield, south Manchester.
Neighbours making their way to work described their shock and disbelief that the suspected bomber lived on their street of redbrick, semi-detached houses. One man, who would give his name only as Terry, said Abedi’s family once had a Libyan flag hung from the television aerial on their chimney, about four years ago.
He described the scene when armed officers carried out a controlled explosion to gain entry to Abedi’s house on Tuesday afternoon. “The lady next door – she’s quite elderly – was just getting in the shower and she said ‘My house shook!’ She thought it was her shower blowing up.
“There was about 30 vans there with guns [aimed] on the house. I’ve lived here 50-plus years and we’ve never experienced anything like this.”
Terry said he had been told that police marksmen threw an explosive charge through Abedi’s letterbox to blow open the door to the premises. He said he had not seen Abedi loudly chanting Islamic verses in the street, as had been reported, but said the area was full of many different cultures living peacefully alongside each other.
Another neighbour, who gave his name only as Mark, added: “When we came home five minutes later there was a huge explosion and there was police everywhere. It’s quite shocking really when you see it on your own street. To be 10 doors down from where you live – that’s just something else that.
“It’s reassuring that the police are here. At least you know things are moving on.”
Police cordon still in place on street of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi. Neighbours upset, shocked but reassured by police presence pic.twitter.com/QPVfI0ueRR
Updated
at 8.16am BST
8.09am BST
08:09
A statement from the Metropolitan police provides more details of the operation that will see soldiers patrolling key sites across London:
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has increased police numbers and operations across the capital with immediate affect. The plans that have been in put in place reflect efforts by the MPS to protect London against the current threat from international terrorism.
The public will see more armed officers, working alongside their neighbourhood and specialist colleagues on proactive operations and targeted patrols, both on foot and in vehicles. Locations of their deployments, types of tactics and numbers on duty will continually change to be the most effective and avoid predictability.
Those armed officers will also provide support to colleagues working on Project Servator. This tactic uses teams of specialist police officers who have been trained to spot the telltale signs that a person may be carrying out hostile reconnaissance or committing other crime. The approach is based on extensive research into the psychology of criminals and what undermines their activities.
As part of the pre-planned and tested deployment under Operation Temperer, the military will be working under the MPS command structure to provide static armed guarding at key locations. This will include Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and the Palace of Westminster. This will free up armed officers to carry out patrols.
Updated
at 8.15am BST
8.00am BST8.00am BST
08:0008:00
Military to guard Downing Street and Buckingham PalaceMilitary to guard Downing Street and Buckingham Palace
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
Scotland Yard say soldiers will help guard Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and the Palace of Westminster. This will free up armed officers, police say. Scotland Yard says soldiers will help guard Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and the Palace of Westminster. This will free up armed officers, police say.
Updated
at 8.17am BST
7.55am BST7.55am BST
07:5507:55
Rudd: Abedi known to intelligence services 'up to a point'Rudd: Abedi known to intelligence services 'up to a point'
Amber Rudd, the home secretary, has been speaking to Sky News about the raising of the threat level, ahead of another meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra meeting this morning.Amber Rudd, the home secretary, has been speaking to Sky News about the raising of the threat level, ahead of another meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra meeting this morning.
She says it is a necessary step:She says it is a necessary step:
What we are being told is that it’s an ongoing investigation, an active operation … Until we can be reassured there is no continued activity … that it is entirely safe … then it is right that we are at this heightened state of alert.What we are being told is that it’s an ongoing investigation, an active operation … Until we can be reassured there is no continued activity … that it is entirely safe … then it is right that we are at this heightened state of alert.
Rudd says the decision to raise the threat level was “intelligence-driven”, but she is reluctant to say whether the attacker, Salman Abedi, was on a watch list:Rudd says the decision to raise the threat level was “intelligence-driven”, but she is reluctant to say whether the attacker, Salman Abedi, was on a watch list:
We do know that he was known, up to a point, to the intelligence services. I can’t be drawn on [how].We do know that he was known, up to a point, to the intelligence services. I can’t be drawn on [how].
She says the intelligence services “do a remarkably good job”, adding that they have “foiled 13 plots since 2013”:She says the intelligence services “do a remarkably good job”, adding that they have “foiled 13 plots since 2013”:
We need to give them the space they need to continue their investigation.We need to give them the space they need to continue their investigation.
Rudd says officials are very aware that there are a lot of large public events this weekend, including the football cup finals in England and Scotland, and says the police “will provide additional support”:Rudd says officials are very aware that there are a lot of large public events this weekend, including the football cup finals in England and Scotland, and says the police “will provide additional support”:
I am reassuring people by saying we need to carry on with our way of life but we need to be aware … staying alert, reporting anything that they see, being a bit more vigilant than normal.I am reassuring people by saying we need to carry on with our way of life but we need to be aware … staying alert, reporting anything that they see, being a bit more vigilant than normal.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.59am BSTat 7.59am BST
7.45am BST7.45am BST
07:4507:45
The names of the two Polish citizens killed in the attack have not been confirmed. But Poland’s foreign minister, Witold Waszczykowski, identified them as a couple who had been waiting for their daughters at the arena:The names of the two Polish citizens killed in the attack have not been confirmed. But Poland’s foreign minister, Witold Waszczykowski, identified them as a couple who had been waiting for their daughters at the arena:
Polish Foreign Secretary Waszczykowski says that the couple was waiting for their two daughters who attended the gig https://t.co/cgL80iWWuUPolish Foreign Secretary Waszczykowski says that the couple was waiting for their two daughters who attended the gig https://t.co/cgL80iWWuU
Foreign Secretary Waszczykowski also said a Polish man suffered severe injuries in the attack & had to undergo a surgery, but is stable nowForeign Secretary Waszczykowski also said a Polish man suffered severe injuries in the attack & had to undergo a surgery, but is stable now
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.52am BSTat 7.52am BST
7.40am BST7.40am BST
07:4007:40
In the hours after the attack took place, much of the information about the victims – along with the name of the perpetrator – was reported first on US news networks, prompting questions over the apparent leaking of intelligence, David Smith and Ewen MacAskill report:In the hours after the attack took place, much of the information about the victims – along with the name of the perpetrator – was reported first on US news networks, prompting questions over the apparent leaking of intelligence, David Smith and Ewen MacAskill report:
American officials have been criticised for leaking the identity of the Manchester bomber before British police officially named him.American officials have been criticised for leaking the identity of the Manchester bomber before British police officially named him.
Although UK journalists had Salman Abedi’s name, the UK government and Greater Manchester police declined to confirm it more than two hours after it appeared in the US press. Earlier in the day, the government indicated it might not release the name at all on Tuesday because the investigation was continuing.Although UK journalists had Salman Abedi’s name, the UK government and Greater Manchester police declined to confirm it more than two hours after it appeared in the US press. Earlier in the day, the government indicated it might not release the name at all on Tuesday because the investigation was continuing.
The Trump administration’s apparent indiscretion seems likely to cause consternation in London and could raise questions about future cooperation in the long term.The Trump administration’s apparent indiscretion seems likely to cause consternation in London and could raise questions about future cooperation in the long term.
7.32am BST7.32am BST
07:3207:32
The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, chaired a meeting of the devolved government’s resilience committee in the early hours of this morning, at which ministers were briefed by Police Scotland about the raising of the UK threat level.The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, chaired a meeting of the devolved government’s resilience committee in the early hours of this morning, at which ministers were briefed by Police Scotland about the raising of the UK threat level.
Sturgeon said:Sturgeon said:
While raising the UK terror threat level to critical has been judged a necessary response to the despicable attack in Manchester, we must not allow terrorism to triumph.While raising the UK terror threat level to critical has been judged a necessary response to the despicable attack in Manchester, we must not allow terrorism to triumph.
I urge the people of Scotland to be vigilant but not alarmed and, as far as possible, to go about their business as usual. Police Scotland have already visibly increased their presence in locations such as transport hubs and city centres as a precaution.I urge the people of Scotland to be vigilant but not alarmed and, as far as possible, to go about their business as usual. Police Scotland have already visibly increased their presence in locations such as transport hubs and city centres as a precaution.
Security arrangements for upcoming public events, including this weekend’s Scottish Cup final, are being thoroughly reviewed and the public should anticipate additional safety measures such as full body and bag searches.Security arrangements for upcoming public events, including this weekend’s Scottish Cup final, are being thoroughly reviewed and the public should anticipate additional safety measures such as full body and bag searches.
Our emergency services prepare extensively for situations such as this, and those well-rehearsed plans are now being put into practice.Our emergency services prepare extensively for situations such as this, and those well-rehearsed plans are now being put into practice.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.37am BSTat 7.37am BST
7.18am BST7.18am BST
07:1807:18
Two Polish nationals among the deadTwo Polish nationals among the dead
The Polish foreign minister has confirmed that “at least two Polish nationals” were killed in the attack on Manchester, and one is injured.The Polish foreign minister has confirmed that “at least two Polish nationals” were killed in the attack on Manchester, and one is injured.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.38am BSTat 7.38am BST
7.12am BST7.12am BST
07:1207:12
Theresa May last night said the government had raised the threat level from severe to critical for the first time since July 2007. The elevation to the highest notch means “not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent”.Theresa May last night said the government had raised the threat level from severe to critical for the first time since July 2007. The elevation to the highest notch means “not only that an attack remains highly likely but a further attack may be imminent”.
What it also means is that soldiers will be immediately deployed to Britain’s streets to support the police. In an operation codenamed Temperer, military officials will patrol key sites and public events.What it also means is that soldiers will be immediately deployed to Britain’s streets to support the police. In an operation codenamed Temperer, military officials will patrol key sites and public events.
This will include an extra armed presence at the FA Cup final at Wembley and the Premiership rugby final at Twickenham this weekend. The Scottish government is also reviewing security for the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.This will include an extra armed presence at the FA Cup final at Wembley and the Premiership rugby final at Twickenham this weekend. The Scottish government is also reviewing security for the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.14am BSTat 7.14am BST
7.03am BST7.03am BST
07:0307:03
A 23-year-old man arrested in Chorlton, south Manchester, on Tuesday morning is still being questioned by police. It is believed that he is Ismael Abedi, the brother of the perpetrator, Salman Abedi, but police have not confirmed this.A 23-year-old man arrested in Chorlton, south Manchester, on Tuesday morning is still being questioned by police. It is believed that he is Ismael Abedi, the brother of the perpetrator, Salman Abedi, but police have not confirmed this.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.13am BSTat 7.13am BST
6.54am BST
06:54
Alan Travis
The decision to raise the official threat level to critical and to deploy troops under Operation Temperer, meaning that an attack is expected imminently, is the first time for a decade that it has been set at its highest level.
The last time troops under Operation Temperer were deployed was immediately after the terrorist attacks in Brussels last year, but they were only used covertly as backup for the visible armed police presence at railway stations and airports.
It means that up to 5,000 armed troops can be deployed at transport hubs and other crowded public places in order to release the armed police for other duties.
The threat level has only twice before been raised to critical since the system of official threat levels was introduced on 1 August 2006. It was raised for three days from 10 August 2006 at the time of the transatlantic airliner plot, and on 30 June 2007 when the security services uncovered a plot to bomb a nightclub on London’s Haymarket. This was a plot that culminated in the attack on Glasgow airport.
Updated
at 7.15am BST
6.42am BST
06:42
Alison Howe and Lisa Lees confirmed among dead
Two more victims of the blast have been named. They are Alison Howe and Lisa Lees.
The two women were waiting in the foyer of Manchester Arena to collect their 15-year-old daughters, who were at the Ariana Grande concert. The girls are safe, the Mirror reports this morning, but their mothers both died in the attack.
Lee Hunter, Lisa Lees’s brother, wrote on Facebook: “For those who don’t know, Lisa is gone but never, ever forgotten. I love you Lisa. I’ll miss you so much.”
Jordan Howe, who yesterday spoke to the Guardian as he searched hospitals for his missing stepmother, confirmed she too had died, posting on Facebook: “They took a caring beautiful mum and step mother away from us all. She was amazing to us all x love you loads Alison Howe.”
Updated
at 6.54am BST
6.28am BST
06:28
Greater Manchester police have welcomed the upping of the threat level. In an overnight statement, the deputy chief constable, Ian Pilling, said:
Raising the threat level to critical … will support our ongoing investigation. People across Greater Manchester have seen an increased police presence throughout the day and this will continue. They will be seen at key locations across the region.
We are continuing to work with the national counter-terrorism policing network and UK intelligence services as part of the response to dealing with the tragic events that took place 24 hours ago.
We would ask people to remain vigilant as they have been throughout the day and report anything in confidence to the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789321 or in an emergency 999.
People have shown tremendous strength and resilience throughout the day and we need this to continue in the difficult days ahead.
Updated
at 6.54am BST
6.16am BST
06:16
We now know the names of five of the 22 people who died in the terror attack. They were:
Olivia Campbell, 15
Kelly Brewster, 32
Saffie Rose Roussos, eight
Georgina Callander, 18
John Atkinson, 28
An emergency number is available for those concerned about loved ones or anyone who may have been in the area. The National Casualty Bureau number to call is 0800 096 0095.
Updated
at 6.55am BST
6.11am BST
06:11
Jason Burke
In recent years a shift has occurred: attacks on “lifestyle” targets have become increasingly common. Why this shift, and why are such targets so apparently attractive to a terrorist?
One reason is that the more obvious targets – the military bases, embassies, government offices, airports and so on – are better protected than they were a decade ago. Terrorist targets are often determined by what is feasible, not by what fits a master plan.
Another reason for the shift is that al-Qaida, now relatively weaker than before, and Islamic State, which has become pre-eminent among jihadis, differ on tactics and strategy, even if their aims coincide. The veterans of al-Qaida prioritise building support for their extremist project and try to strike targets that they believe potential sympathisers will regard as legitimate. They may justify some attacks as being in line with their reading of Islamic law which calls for fair retaliation – in their case for Muslim casualties of western military actions. Others can be justified by deeming citizens of western nations collectively responsible for the acts of their governments.
But even al-Qaida would probably consider killing teenagers at a concert to be beyond the pale.
Not Isis however. The group relies on escalating brutality to terrorise target populations, whether in the west or the Middle East.
Updated
at 6.12am BST
5.58am BST
05:58
Kelly Brewster’s partner, Ian Winslow, has confirmed that she was among those killed in the attack.
He wrote on Facebook:
Not sure how this works but it isn’t good news. Kelly Brewster wasn’t one of the unidentified hospital patients. She has sadly passed away in the terror attack yesterday.
Kelly really was the happiest she has ever been and we had so many things planned together. My daughter Phoebe will be absolutely devastated, like we all are.
Updated
at 6.56am BST
5.43am BST
05:43
Killer had recently visited Libya – reports
There are reports 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:
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. The Sun reports that Salman Abedi may have used trips to Libya to travel to Syria. This has not been confirmed.
The Guardian has one of the first pictures of Abedi, taken during an Islamic class at the Didsbury mosque:
Updated
at 6.59am BST
5.35am BST
05:35
Kelly Brewster, who was 32, also died in the blast, her family has 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.
5.26am BST
05:26
Olivia Campbell, 15, who had been missing since the blast, has died, her mother has confirmed. The teenager was the subject of a massive social media campaign to find her after she could not be contacted in the wake of the explosion.
Her mother, Charlotte Campbell, confirmed overnight that Olivia had died, in a public Facebook post dedicated to “my darling precious gorgeous girl”.
She spoke to the media on Tuesday about her desperate attempts to make contact with her daughter:
I’m at home phoning everybody: hospitals, police, the centres that the children have been put in. Her dad’s in Manchester looking for her. I’ve got friends looking for her. I’ve got people I don’t even know looking for her, people messaging me, saying we’ve got her photo, looking for her, we’ll get in contact if we see her. And I’m just hearing nothing. Her phone’s dead…
They’ve basically told me to stay put and wait for a phone call. I daren’t leave the house just in case she somehow gets home.
Updated
at 7.01am BST
5.10am BST
05:10
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
Soldiers are to be deployed on Britain’s streets after the threat level was raised from severe to critical, meaning officials believe another terrorist attack may be imminent.
The move came in the wake of the suicide bombing of Manchester Arena, which killed 22 people and injured 59 more.
The perpetrator has been identified as Salman Abedi, 22, a Mancunian of Libyan descent. He walked into the lobby of the arena on Monday evening as thousands of people were exiting an Ariana Grande concert, detonating an improvised device that murdered and maimed many.
Among those he killed were eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos; Georgina Callander, 18; and John Atkinson, 28.
Overnight, the names of two more victims have been revealed: Kelly Brewster, 32, and Olivia Campbell, who was 15. Her mother Charlotte Campbell paid tribute to her “darling precious gorgeous girl”.
Several people remain missing, many of them teenagers, with family and friends continuing to share their names and pictures on social media.
In messages posted online, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but this has not been confirmed by officials investigating the blast. There are reports today that Abedi had recently returned from a trip to Libya.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday morning in south Manchester, and is believed to be Ismael Abedi, the brother of the perpetrator.
All parties have suspended campaigning for the 8 June general election.
The prime minister, Theresa May, condemned the attack as:
Appalling, sickening cowardice, deliberately targeting innocent, defenceless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives.
A vigil held in Manchester’s Albert Square on Tuesday evening drew thousands in solidarity with those killed and wounded.
Updated
at 7.02am BST