‘It will take quite a long time for us to feel safe’
A JOURNALIST has told what it was like to live in the block of flats where Salman Abedi is believed to have spent his final hours.
Granby Row, near Sackville Street, was raided by armed police brandishing machine guns on Wednesday in a dramatic high-profile operation.
It was initially thought a flat inside the block was being used to make bombs – but it is now believed Abedi stayed in the flat before detonating the bomb at the Manchester Arena, on Monday, May 22.
Louise Bolotin, who lives in Granby Row, said police and forensic officers still remain at the flats.
She said things are starting to return to normal, but emotionally it will take some time for residents to feel safe again.
Louise, a freelance journalist, said she accidentally stumbled into the investigation when she got out of the lift on the wrong corridor.
She told the M.E.N.: “When I was in the lift I pressed the button to go to the top floor and got out of it without thinking.
“I turned the corner and started walking down the corridor. There was this massive smell of explosives, there was black resin and debris.
“I had come through the door and could see four or five TA officers. I then realised I was on the wrong floor.
“That was a massive shock. I accidentally put myself in the middle of the police search going on.
“When the officer saw me and I explained what happened, he shouted ‘go, go, go.’”
Louise added: “There are still two forensic officers in the flat in question. Police officers have been searching through the communal bins, used for recycling paper, plastic and glass. “They have tipped out all of the bins and have been going through absolutely everything. “Searching for any clues or pieces of evidence. “We don’t know how long they were using the flat for, police obviously have to check everything.” She said officers are keeping guard at the front of the flats, with all residents having to prove they live in the building before they can go inside. Louise said: “A lot of the residents I have spoken to are very distressed. “It has been a very shocking incident to us. “It is going to take quite a long time for us who live here to feel safe. “It occurred to me that if the bomb was being built here, one little slip and he could have taken out the back of the building.” Louise Bolotin