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Manchester attack: Bomber 'not acting alone' says Amber Rudd Manchester attack: Bomber not acting alone, says Amber Rudd
(about 1 hour later)
The man who carried out a suicide attack in Manchester was "likely" to have not acted alone, Home Secretary Amber Rudd says.The man who carried out a suicide attack in Manchester was "likely" to have not acted alone, Home Secretary Amber Rudd says.
Salman Abedi killed 22 and injured 64 when he blew himself up at the Manchester Arena on Monday night - 20 people are in critical care.Salman Abedi killed 22 and injured 64 when he blew himself up at the Manchester Arena on Monday night - 20 people are in critical care.
Police arrested three men in south Manchester on Wednesday.
The UK terror threat level is now up to its highest level of "critical", meaning more attacks may be imminent.The UK terror threat level is now up to its highest level of "critical", meaning more attacks may be imminent.
It means military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites. It means military personnel are now being deployed to protect key sites.
Four of the victims are known to be eight-year-old Saffie Rose Rousses, Olivia Campbell, 15, John Atkinson, 28, and Georgina Callander - thought to be 18. The Palace of Westminster has been closed to the public following police advice, and will not re-open until further notice, a statement on its website said.
According to Reuters, the Polish foreign minister has said that two Polish people who went missing after the attack are among those killed. And the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace has been cancelled on Wednesday to redeploy police officers, the Ministry of Defence said.
Mrs Rudd said the attack was a "devastating occasion".Mrs Rudd said the attack was a "devastating occasion".
"It was more sophisticated than some of the attacks we've seen before, and it seems likely - possible - that he wasn't doing this on his own," she added."It was more sophisticated than some of the attacks we've seen before, and it seems likely - possible - that he wasn't doing this on his own," she added.
Mrs Rudd has said she "absolutely" expects the raising of the threat level to critical to be temporary. She also said the bomber was known "up to a point" by the intelligence services. Who are the victims?
She also said up to 3,800 troops will be deployed on the streets around the UK. Six of the victims are known to be eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, Martyn Hett, Olivia Campbell, 15, Kelly Brewster, 32, John Atkinson, 28, and Georgina Callander - thought to be 18.
Mrs Rudd also said there would be an "uplift" in Prevent, the government's anti-radicalisation programme, after June. This had already been planned before Monday's attack, she added. Two Polish people are also among those killed, according to a Polish government minister.
The change in terror threat comes after investigators were unable to rule out whether the bomber, named by police as Salman Abedi, was part of a group. The injured are being treated at eight Greater Manchester hospitals. Of those, some have lost limbs.
He is understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent. The wounded include 12 children aged under 16.
The prime minister said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public. These include Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and the Palace of Westminster. Several people are still missing, including Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19.
Eilidh's friend, Laura MacIntyre, 15 - who was also reported as missing - was later identified as one of the seriously injured in a Manchester hospital.
Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC that the attack had been the city's "darkest hour".
A hotline has been set up for people concerned about loved ones - 0800 096 0095.
What does a 'critical' threat level mean?
Prime Minister Theresa May said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public. These include Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, embassies and the Palace of Westminster.
Military personnel may also be seen at other events over the coming weeks, such as concerts, Mrs May said, working under the command of police officers.Military personnel may also be seen at other events over the coming weeks, such as concerts, Mrs May said, working under the command of police officers.
The prime minister said she did not want the public to feel "unduly alarmed" but said it was a "proportionate and sensible response".The prime minister said she did not want the public to feel "unduly alarmed" but said it was a "proportionate and sensible response".
A hotline has been set up for people concerned about loved ones - 0800 096 0095. Mrs Rudd has said she "absolutely" expects the raising of the threat level to critical to be temporary.
And anyone with information about the attack can call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789321. She also said the bomber was known "up to a point" by the intelligence services.
Mrs Rudd also said there would be an "uplift" in Prevent, the government's anti-radicalisation programme, after June. This had already been planned before Monday's attack, she added.
It is understood that between 400 and 800 troops will be deployed in the first instance. Up to 3,800 are available.
The highest threat level, which is decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - a group of experts from the police, government departments and agencies - has only been reached twice before.The highest threat level, which is decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - a group of experts from the police, government departments and agencies - has only been reached twice before.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who is the national counter-terrorism policing lead, said the investigation was "fast-moving and making good progress".
"However, a critical line of inquiry is whether the dead terrorist was acting alone or part of a group," he said.
"We still have critical lines of inquiry they're chasing down which has led to a level of uncertainty."
The first time the threat level was raised to critical was in 2006 during a major operation to stop a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.The first time the threat level was raised to critical was in 2006 during a major operation to stop a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.
The following year, security chiefs raised it once more as they hunted for the men who had tried to bomb a London nightclub, before going on to attack Glasgow Airport.The following year, security chiefs raised it once more as they hunted for the men who had tried to bomb a London nightclub, before going on to attack Glasgow Airport.
The Metropolitan Police says it has increased its presence across London, including specialist police officers who are trained "to spot the tell-tale signs that a person may be carrying out hostile reconnaissance or committing other crime... based on extensive research into the psychology of criminals and what undermines their activities".The Metropolitan Police says it has increased its presence across London, including specialist police officers who are trained "to spot the tell-tale signs that a person may be carrying out hostile reconnaissance or committing other crime... based on extensive research into the psychology of criminals and what undermines their activities".
Former Salford University student Salman Abedi is thought to have blown himself up in the arena's foyer shortly after 22:30 BST on Monday. Who was the attacker?
Fans were beginning to leave a concert by US singer Ariana Grande. The change in terror threat comes after investigators were unable to rule out whether the bomber, named by police as Salman Abedi, had help carrying out the attack.
So-called Islamic State has said - via IS channels on the messaging app Telegram - it was behind the Manchester attack, but this has not been verified. He is understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent, and a former Salford University student.
Analysis Hamid El-Sayed, who worked for the UN on tackling radicalisation and who now works at Manchester University, said Abedi had a "really bad relationship" with his family.
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent He said, according to a family friend, that Abedi's parents had tried to "bring him back on the right path and they failed to do that".
This is a major and very rare move by the UK's security chiefs. "Eventually he was doing very bad at his university, at his education, and he didn't complete, and they tried to take him back to Libya several times. He had difficulties adjusting to European lifestyle."
For the past few years, ministers, police chiefs and others have been at pains to try to warn the public that the threat faced by the UK was severe. What's happening with the investigation?
But they have steered clear of warning, even when a major plot was being tracked, that an attack could be close. This time, they feel they have no choice other than to say it may be imminent. Apart from the three arrests on Wednesday, a 23-year-old man - Abedi's brother - was arrested in Chorlton, south Manchester, in connection with the attack.
In short, nobody at this stage can say for sure whether Abedi acted alone or with the help of others. They can't rule out if there are other people out there. Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who is the national counter-terrorism policing lead, said the investigation was "fast-moving and making good progress".
What does it mean for us, the public? "However, a critical line of inquiry is whether the dead terrorist was acting alone or part of a group," he said.
Some of us will see the Army in key locations that need guarding so that armed police can be freed to focus on policing rather than guarding. "We still have critical lines of inquiry they're chasing down which has led to a level of uncertainty."
We should expect additional time-consuming security checks at ports and so on. Anyone with information about the attack can call the anti-terror hotline on 0800 789321.
The aim for security chiefs is to ratchet up the security while keeping the country moving. How has Manchester reacted?
The wounded, who include 12 children aged under 16, are being treated at eight hospitals across Manchester.
Several people are still missing, including Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19.
Eilidh's friend, Laura MacIntyre, 15 - who was also reported as missing - was later identified as one of the seriously injured in a Manchester hospital.
Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC that the attack had been the city's "darkest hour".
Thousands of people turned out for the vigil in Manchester and to hold a minute's silence to remember those who died. Vigils were also held elsewhere.Thousands of people turned out for the vigil in Manchester and to hold a minute's silence to remember those who died. Vigils were also held elsewhere.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Commons Speaker John Bercow stood on stage alongside Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Commons Speaker John Bercow stood on stage alongside Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.
The arena bombing is the worst attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005, in which 52 people were killed by four suicide bombers.
Witnesses at the arena described seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris of Monday's bomb, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped concert-goers.
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