Britain’s threat level has been raised from “severe” to “critical”, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced, saying another attack “may be imminent” following a deadly suicide bombing in Manchester.
May made the announcement in a televised address late on Tuesday, warning her government cannot ignore the possibility that there is “a wider group of individuals linked to this attack”.
An improvised explosive device went off late on Monday as thousands of mostly young fans streamed out of Manchester Arena in the northern English city at the end of US artist Ariana Grande‘s performance.
On Tuesday, police said Salman Abedi, 22, had carried out the suicide bombing that killed 23 people, including himself.
About 5,000 British soldiers will patrol the streets and boost security at key sites, and military personnel will be deployed at public events such as concerts and sports events.
“Military officers will take over guarding duties at some of our key fixed locations,” said Mark Rowley from the Metropolitan Police. “It’s an extraordinary stance but it’s very well practiced. It’s all about protecting the public.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Ian Hopkins of the Greater Manchester Police confirmed the identity of the attacker but gave no further details. He also said police had raided two residential areas in Manchester, and carried out a controlled explosion at one as part of the investigation.
At one of the scenes where police raided an apartment, heavily armed men were guarding what one resident described as a “very, very quiet” area. Plain-clothed officers wearing gloves removed bags from the apartment.
The area in south Manchester, home to a number of tidy-looking buildings, is less than a kilometre from the supermarket where police reportedly arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the attack.
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| Thousands gathered in Manchester on Tuesday for a multi-faith vigil in the city centre to remember the victims of the deadly suicide attack [Shafik Mandhai/Al Jazeera] |
Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips, reporting from Manchester, said it appeared the assault was carried out with “more planning and more sophistication”, in comparison with the attack on parliament in London in March.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility on its social media channels, saying “one of the caliphate’s soldiers placed bombs among the crowds”.
Chaos and panic
The explosion, which and sent screaming families and children fleeing, also wounded at least 59 concert-goers, many of whom are in critical condition.
Al Jazeera’s Nadim Baba, also reporting from Manchester, said 12 of the 59 victims brought to hospitals were children.
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At least one of the fatalities was an eight-year-old girl, he said.
Earlier in the day, May denounced the “callous terrorist attack” that she labelled as “among the worst terrorism we have experienced in the United Kingdom”.
Queen Elizabeth described the bombing as an “act of barbarity”.
The attack has been described as the deadliest in Britain since four men killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London’s transport system in July 2005.
Campaigning suspended
Martin Reardon, a security analyst and former FBI agent, said that as ISIL loses ground in the Middle East, fighters are likely to stage more attacks in Europe.The bombing also came in the lead-up to a June 8 general election in the UK.
Earlier on Tuesday, UK politicians said they were suspending election campaigning until further notice.
Al Jazeera’s Shafik Mandhai, reporting from Manchester, said the area near the train station and sports arena – the site of the attack – remained sealed off by police officers.
“The area is a commuter hub, not only for workers within the city but also for those coming from towns nearby. But today, with the exception of journalists and curious locals, it is very quiet,” he said.
Later on Tuesday, in Manchester’s Albert Square to honour the victims.
Manchester, Britain’s third biggest city, was hit in 1996 by a massive car bomb planted at a shopping centre by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that wounded more than 200 people.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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