UK bomber photos released
BRITISH police have released CCTV footage of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi on the night of the attack as thousands defied the terror threat to take part in the Great Manchester Run yesterday.
Security was tight as 40,000 runners pounded Manchester’s streets in the annual half marathon a day after Prime Minister Theresa May lowered the terror threat level, which was hiked following last Monday’s carnage.
Investigators gave details of Abedi’s last hours as they released photographs from security cameras showing the blackclad suicide bomber wearing jeans and trainers, a black bodywarmer and baseball cap, the straps of his backpack visible on his shoulders.
The 22-year-old, of Libyan origin, was born in the northwestern English city.
The police statement said one of the last places he went to was a “city centre flat and from there he left to make his way to the Manchester Arena” where the attack took place.
“The flat is highly relevant as a location which we believe may be the final assembly place for the device.”
Two unarmed police officers remained on guard outside the entrance to Granby House, believed to contain the flat in question, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.
“It is surprising because these people are just under your nose and you don’t know it,” said Harpreet Lota, a Manchester resident walking past the building.
‘Don’t let them win’
In their latest operations, police detained two men, aged 20 and 22, in a raid in north Manchester early on Saturday.
Along with the 11 suspects in UK custody, police in Libya have detained Abedi’s father and brother. A third of those killed in Monday’s bombing were children, and another 116 people were injured.
The attack, which has been claimed by Islamic State, tar- geted young fans at the end of a concert by US teen pop idol Ariana Grande.
British Counter-Terror Chief Mark Rowley said Friday that police had captured “a large part of the network” linked to the bombing.
Explaining the decision to reduce the terror threat level from critical – its highest level – to severe, May said troops would also be withdrawn from the streets, another measure adopted after the bombing.
“We should be clear about what this means: A threat level of severe means an attack is highly likely, the country should remain vigilant,” she said.
Operation Temperer, which involved the deployment of troops on patrol alongside police, will be wound down tonight, at the end of the bank holiday weekend.
“From midnight on Monday, there will be a well-planned and gradual withdrawal of members of the armed forces, who will return to normal duties,” she said.
There was a highly visible police presence as runners gathered on the start line for the Manchester run at 9am. Competitors fell silent as the clocks struck 9, followed by sustained applaus as Oasis song Don’t Look Back In Anger played over the tannoy, sparking a sing-along.
Prime Minister May has seen her polling lead against Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn dwindle as campaigning restarted ahead of a June 8 general election, with her rival accusing her of overseeing a cut in police staff while she was interior minister.
Between 2009-2016, the number of police officers fell by almost 20,000, or around 14 percent, according to the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank.
May argues the government has increased funding for security and intelligence agencies. Authorities are currently handling 500 terror-related investigations into 3,000 individuals, with another 20,000 people on the radar posing a “residual risk”.
May attempted to hit back late on Saturday, announcing the new “Commission for Countering Extremism”, saying that “enough is enough – we need to be stronger and more resolute in standing up to these people”.
The commission will have a legal responsibility to identify extremism and will advise the government about what policies and laws to enact in order to defeat extremists.
The bombing was the latest in a series of IS-claimed attacks in Europe that have coincided with a US-led offensive against the jihadist group in Syria and Iraq.