Killer sought forgiveness
Bomber phoned mum 15 minutes before his attack
MANCHESTER bomber Salman Abedi phoned his nuclear scientist mother 15 minutes before his deadly suicide attack and said “forgive me”, a Libyan anti-terror force says.
The bomber’s mother is reportedly being quizzed in Libya, as are his siblings and his father as British terror forces continue their hunt for accomplices.
Libyan Special Deterrent Force spokesman Ahmed bin Salem said the mother, Samia Tabbal, 50, had revealed her son left Libya for the UK four days before the bombing and called her on the day of the attack.
Mr Bin Salem said: “He was giving farewell.”
Manchester-born Abedi is believed to have regularly travelled to see his family – who moved back to Tripoli following the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 – possibly using trips as cover to visit terror groups in Syria.
Abedi targeted teen fans at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on Monday night, killing 22 people, including seven children, and injuring dozens.
It was Britain’s worst terrorist incident since the July 7, 2005 London attacks.
Mr Bin Salem said Libyan investigators thought, based on what brother Hashem told them, “the bomber acted alone”.
He said Hashem, arrested on suspicion of links to Islamic State, told them Salman learned how to make explosives on the internet and wanted to “seek victory for the Islamic State”.
Despite the belief of the Libyan authorities that Abedi acted alone, British
investigative efforts remain focused on smashing the potential terror ring that might have assisted him.
Police hunting the “network” behind his attack said they had made “significant” arrests and seized “very important” items in raids linked to the investigation.
After chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the terror threat level would
remain at critical – meaning another attack was expected imminently.
Since the bombing, it has emerged security agencies missed numerous chances to stop Abedi.
There were at least five wasted opportunities. Among them, a relative told MI5 this year he was “dangerous” and a neighbour reported suspicious activity at Abedi’s home five years ago.
His father, Ramadan
Abedi, has denied his son is linked to militants or the suicide bombing.
Greater Manchester Police arrested a man yesterday in Moss Side, inner-city Manchester, bringing to 10 the number of people arrested over the attack.
Five children and 18 adults remain in a critical condition and 75 people are still in hospital.
The Queen has visited some of the injured.