Blue case red alert

Second device fears as footage of Abedi sparks urgent search

POLICE in Manchester were yesterday searching for a large blue suitcase amid fears that bomber Salman Abedi had a second device.

CCTV footage released yesterday showed the killer pushing the wheeled case hours before the attack on concertgoers at the city’s arena.

In the footage, Abedi, 22, wears what appears to be the same baseball cap and trainers he wore during his May 22 attack, which claimed 22 lives.

Police also began searching a rubbish tip in the town of Bury yesterday while armed officers made a further arrest in inner-city Rusholme.

The number of arrests in connection with the IS-linked terror plot has risen to 16, with two having been released without charge.

The pictures of Abedi with the case were taken in the city centre and some kilometres to the south.

Police said the item was not taken by the bomber to the arena and officers were appealing for information about its whereabouts.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said: “We know he visited the Wilmslow Rd area of Manchester and was also seen in Manchester city centre with the blue suitcase.

“We have no reason to believe the case and its contents contain anything dangerous, but would ask people to be cautious.”

Earlier, separate CCTV footage emerged of Abedi grocery shopping just hours before going to the Ariana Grande concert where he detonated the bomb.

He looked relaxed as he browsed the store shelves in a convenience store close to a central Manchester flat he used as a safe house.

The footage, obtained by the BBC, captures Abedi on the Sunday morning before the concert attack.

He is wearing the same bulky, black and white trainers he wore in his final hours and a similar black jacket.