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Manchester attack: UK terror threat level raised to critical | Manchester attack: UK terror threat level raised to critical |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The UK terror threat level has been raised to its highest level of "critical", meaning further attacks may be imminent, Theresa May has said. | The UK terror threat level has been raised to its highest level of "critical", meaning further attacks may be imminent, Theresa May has said. |
The move came after investigators were unable to rule out whether Manchester bombing suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, the prime minister said. | The move came after investigators were unable to rule out whether Manchester bombing suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, the prime minister said. |
Military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites. | Military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites. |
Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber attacked Manchester Arena on Monday evening. | Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber attacked Manchester Arena on Monday evening. |
'Sensible response' | |
The prime minister said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public. | The prime minister said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public. |
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. |
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the number of UK troops deployed will be in the hundreds not around the 5,000 figure being reported. | |
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". |
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". | 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. | "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." | "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. |
Former Salford University student Salman Abedi - understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent - is thought to have blown himself up in the arena's foyer shortly after 22:30 BST on Monday. | Former Salford University student Salman Abedi - understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent - is thought to have blown himself up in the arena's foyer shortly after 22:30 BST on Monday. |
Fans were beginning to leave a concert by US singer Ariana Grande. | Fans were beginning to leave a concert by US singer Ariana Grande. |
Three of his victims have been named - Saffie Rose Roussos, eight, Georgina Callander - thought to be 18 - and John Atkinson, 28. | Three of his victims have been named - Saffie Rose Roussos, eight, Georgina Callander - thought to be 18 - and John Atkinson, 28. |
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. | 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. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent |
This is a major and very rare move by the UK's security chiefs. | This is a major and very rare move by the UK's security chiefs. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
What does it mean for us, the public? | What does it mean for us, the public? |
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. | 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 should expect additional time-consuming security checks at ports and so on. | We should expect additional time-consuming security checks at ports and so on. |
The aim for security chiefs is to ratchet up the security while keeping the country moving. | The aim for security chiefs is to ratchet up the security while keeping the country moving. |
The wounded, who include 12 children aged under 16, are being treated at eight hospitals across Manchester. | 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, 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19. | Several people are still missing, including Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, 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. | 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. |
Thousands of people turned out for the vigil in Manchester and to hold a minute's silence to remember those who died. | Thousands of people turned out for the vigil in Manchester and to hold a minute's silence to remember those who died. |
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. |
Vigils have been held elsewhere, including in Birmingham, where the event was interrupted after a man apparently armed with a large knife and a baseball bat was detained nearby. | Vigils have been held elsewhere, including in Birmingham, where the event was interrupted after a man apparently armed with a large knife and a baseball bat was detained nearby. |
The arena bombing is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005, in which 52 people were killed by four suicide bombers. | The arena bombing is the worst terrorist 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. | 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. |
Andy Holey, who had gone to pick up his wife and daughter, said: "An explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors." | Andy Holey, who had gone to pick up his wife and daughter, said: "An explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors." |
Emma Johnson, who was waiting for her children, aged 15 and 17, said: "The whole building shook. There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. There were bodies everywhere." | Emma Johnson, who was waiting for her children, aged 15 and 17, said: "The whole building shook. There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. There were bodies everywhere." |
Teenager Abigail Walker told the BBC: "I had to make sure I had my sister. I grabbed hold of her and pulled hard. Everyone was running and crying. | Teenager Abigail Walker told the BBC: "I had to make sure I had my sister. I grabbed hold of her and pulled hard. Everyone was running and crying. |
"It was absolutely terrifying." | "It was absolutely terrifying." |