Multiple arrests across Manchester in wake of suicide bombing

A Libyan security spokesperson says another brother of the alleged Manchester suicide bomber has been arrested, along with his father, in connection with Monday night’s attack at pop concert. Both arrests happened in Tripoli. Ahmed bin Salem, a spokesperson for a Libyan anti-terror force, said the younger brother of Salman Abedi, Hashim, was detained on Tuesday. Bin Salem gave no further details. However the Special Deterrent anti-terror force said in a statement on its Facebook page that the arrest took place as Hashim Abedi was receiving cash transferred from his brother Salman. The force’s statement says: “The brother was aware of all the details of the terrorist attack,” and that he’d claimed both he and Salman belonged to ISIS. Prior to his own arrest, the accused bomber’s father, Ramadan Abedi, told The Associated Press on Wednesday, that another son, Ismail, 23, was arrested in England on Tuesday. Salman Abedi, 22, was a British citizen born to Libyan parents and grew up around Manchester. He died in the attack. Abedi attended the local Salford University for a time. Neighbours recalled him as a tall, thin young man who often wore traditional Islamic dress and didn’t talk much. Police on Tuesday raided his house, using a controlled explosion to blast down the door.At a news conference Wednesday, police Chief Ian Hopkins said it’s clear “this is a network we are investigating.” Hopkins said police are carrying out extensive searches across the city.He declined to comment on whether police have found the maker of the explosive device used in the attack at the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people, including children and a police officer, following an Ariana Grande concert. Later in the day, police confirmed six men and one woman have been arrested in the U.K. in connection with the investigation. They are all being held in custody for questioning. Police are trying to establish if the bomber acted alone or whether there could be a risk of further attacks. British police and intelligence agencies are working to piece together Abedi’s allegiances, as the country’s law-and-order chief said it’s “likely” he did not act alone. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said earlier that Abedi had been known to security forces “up to a point.” Officials are examining his trips to Libya and possibly Syria as they piece together his movements before the bombing and try to foil any new potential attacks. Before he was arrested, Ramadan Abedi said he spoke to his son five days ago, and that he was getting ready to visit Saudi Arabia and sounded “normal.” Abedi’s father told The Associated Press that Abedi’s brother Ismail was arrested Tuesday in the area. Britain on Tuesday raised its terrorism threat level to “critical” amid concerns Abedi may have accomplices who are planning another attack. British soldiers have been deployed in place of police officers to guard high-profile sites such as Buckingham Palace and Parliament.