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Manchester attack: new arrest as police search for accomplices – live Manchester attack: new arrest as police search for accomplices – live
(35 minutes later)
6.13am BST
06:13
Rudd: Police cuts ‘not a factor’ in attack
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, has denied that cuts in police forces contributed to Monday’s terror atrocity in Manchester, Press Association reports:
Rudd was confronted on BBC1’s Question Time on Thursday night by a member of the studio audience who said Theresa May had been warned by the Police Federation that cuts in frontline officers would undermine their ability to gather low-level intelligence about possible threats. Rudd insisted that the majority of such intelligence came from community leaders operating within the Prevent counter-terrorism programme, rather than from police officers on the street.
The audience member said:
We are 20,000 police officers down and we get atrocities like this. Does the government not expect this?
Rudd responded:
I don’t accept that. I have asked the head of counter-terrorism whether this is about resources. It is not.
There may a conversation to have about policing, we may have that at some stage. But now is not that conversation. We must not imply that this terrorist activity may not have taken place if there had been more policing.
Good counter-terrorism is when you have close relationships between the policing and intelligence services. That is what we have. That is why the UK has a strong counter-terrorism network. It’s also about making sure we get in early on radicalisation. But it’s not about those pure numbers on the street.
5.45am BST
05:45
New raid in St Helens, Merseyside
Greater Manchester police says it is currently undertaking searches of a home in St Helens:
This morning (Friday 26 May 2017) we have been carrying out searches at an address in the St Helens area of Merseyside.
The arrest is connected to Monday’s attack on the Manchester Arena, but this is a fast-moving investigation and we are keeping an open mind at this stage.
As it stands, 10 people in total have been arrested in connection with the investigation, of which a man and a woman have since been released without charge.
Eight men remain in custody for questioning.
Updated
at 5.47am BST
5.18am BST5.18am BST
05:1805:18
What we know so farWhat we know so far
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
The investigationThe investigation
Police arrested a man in Manchester’s Moss Side in the early hours of Friday in connection with the attack on Manchester Arena.Police arrested a man in Manchester’s Moss Side in the early hours of Friday in connection with the attack on Manchester Arena.
Eight men are now in custody. One of them is believed to be Ismail Abedi, 23, the brother of the bomber, Salman Abedi.Eight men are now in custody. One of them is believed to be Ismail Abedi, 23, the brother of the bomber, Salman Abedi.
A man and a woman arrested earlier in the investigation have been released without charge.A man and a woman arrested earlier in the investigation have been released without charge.
Police raids in the south of the city on Thursday uncovered suspicious materials similar to those used in the bombing that killed 22 people. Bomb disposal experts were brought in to search a house in Wigan on Thursday evening.Police raids in the south of the city on Thursday uncovered suspicious materials similar to those used in the bombing that killed 22 people. Bomb disposal experts were brought in to search a house in Wigan on Thursday evening.
Officers have warned that accomplices may still be at large and bomb-making equipment could be as yet undiscovered.Officers have warned that accomplices may still be at large and bomb-making equipment could be as yet undiscovered.
UK officials have begun sharing intelligence with US counterparts again, after reassurances were made following a series of leaks to American media.UK officials have begun sharing intelligence with US counterparts again, after reassurances were made following a series of leaks to American media.
The threat level remains at “critical”, with troops continuing to guard key locations and armed police for the first time patrolling trains outside the capital.The threat level remains at “critical”, with troops continuing to guard key locations and armed police for the first time patrolling trains outside the capital.
The perpetratorThe perpetrator
Abedi is believed to have returned to the UK from Libya only days before Monday’s attack. He travelled via Istanbul last Thursday, and Düsseldorf.Abedi is believed to have returned to the UK from Libya only days before Monday’s attack. He travelled via Istanbul last Thursday, and Düsseldorf.
Turkish officials said they had no record of Abedi entering Syria.Turkish officials said they had no record of Abedi entering Syria.
Republican congressman Mike McCaul, chair of the homeland security committee, said Abedi had used triacetone triperoxide (TATP), the explosive used in the 7/7 attacks on London, as well as the Paris and Brussels attacks.Republican congressman Mike McCaul, chair of the homeland security committee, said Abedi had used triacetone triperoxide (TATP), the explosive used in the 7/7 attacks on London, as well as the Paris and Brussels attacks.
The victimsThe victims
All 22 people killed in the attack have now been named. You can read about them here.All 22 people killed in the attack have now been named. You can read about them here.
Of the 116 people taken to eight hospitals in the wake of the attack, 75 are still being treated, of whom 23 remain in critical care, some with “life-changing injuries”. This includes five children at the Royal Manchester children’s hospital, visited by the Queen on Thursday.Of the 116 people taken to eight hospitals in the wake of the attack, 75 are still being treated, of whom 23 remain in critical care, some with “life-changing injuries”. This includes five children at the Royal Manchester children’s hospital, visited by the Queen on Thursday.
NHS England has sent an alert to England’s 27 major trauma centres to prepare for a possible further incident over the bank holiday weekend.NHS England has sent an alert to England’s 27 major trauma centres to prepare for a possible further incident over the bank holiday weekend.
Election campaign resumesElection campaign resumes
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, has denied that government cuts to police numbers contributed to the attack.The home secretary, Amber Rudd, has denied that government cuts to police numbers contributed to the attack.
Rudd will chair this morning’s meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee, as Theresa May attends the G7 summit in Sicily.Rudd will chair this morning’s meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee, as Theresa May attends the G7 summit in Sicily.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will today make a speech drawing a link between Britain’s foreign policy and terror attack. But he will add:Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will today make a speech drawing a link between Britain’s foreign policy and terror attack. But he will add:
That assessment in no way reduces the guilt of those who attack our children. Those terrorists will forever be reviled and held to account for their actions. But an informed understanding of the causes of terrorism is an essential part of an effective response that will protect the security of our people that fights rather than fuels terrorism.That assessment in no way reduces the guilt of those who attack our children. Those terrorists will forever be reviled and held to account for their actions. But an informed understanding of the causes of terrorism is an essential part of an effective response that will protect the security of our people that fights rather than fuels terrorism.