BANK HOLIDAY RING OF STEEL
Massive security at 1,300 UK events Armed police at Hampden final Bomb victims ‘are in my prayers’ says Obama at Edinburgh charity dinner
BRITAIN faces an unprecedented Bank Holiday terror lockdown amid fears that members of the Manchester bomb cell remain on the loose.
Police believe the ‘key players’ behind the carnage are in custody – but warned of further arrests as their sprawling inquiry continues.
Last night, they said security at more than 1,300 events this weekend, including the Scottish Cup Final, FA Cup Final, Aviva premiership rugby Final and Hay Festival has been ‘dramatically’ reviewed.
they warned hundreds of armed officers will be seen at all major sporting, cultural and even community events. police marksmen, including 1,100 extra officers, will also patrol theme parks, beaches and resorts as tens of thousands of people flock to the coast.
the announcement came as former US president Barack obama paid tribute to the suicide bomb victims. He told a charity dinner in Edinburgh last night that his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Manchester and ‘we must teach our children not to be afraid’. Yesterday, new
figures showed that up to 23,000 people have appeared on the radar of counter-terrorist agencies including MI5 and MI6.
Ministers said the astonishing number is a stark illustration of the scale of the task facing intelligence agencies. As the threat level remained at critical:
Police said a ‘large part of the network’ that supported Salman Abedi was now in custody as they quizzed eight men aged between 18 and 38;
Islamic State called for ‘all-out war’ on ‘infidels’ in the West during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which begins today;
Fears of a second device subsided after police found chemicals in properties used by suicide bomber Salman Abedi;
The SAS were on stand-by to fly to remote beaches in the event of a terrorist strike;
Theresa May declared there can ‘never ever be an excuse for terrorism’ after Jeremy Corbyn linked the Manchester attacks with military action taken by British troops;
World leaders declared war on the social media giants over their failure to get tough on terror in a significant victory for the Prime Minister.
Hundreds of counter terrorism officers continued to work around the clock last night to piece together the network supporting the Manchester bomber.
They are sifting through ‘vast’ amounts of evidence after raiding 12 properties in Manchester, Wigan and Nuneaton, as well as vehicles and other premises.
Security officials believe they have an almost complete picture of how the troubled 22-year-old drop-out managed to stage the worst atrocity since the July 7 attacks. A ‘large part of the network’ that supported him is in custody and police commanders expect to put many of them on trial for terrorist offences.
But fears remain that another unconnected network or self-radicalised lone wolf could mount a copycat attack to ‘capitalise’ on the devastation.
In 2005, London was only saved from a second wave of attacks on July 21 when the rucksack devices failed to go off because of a blundering bomb-maker.
With millions planning to enjoy the extended weekend, police chiefs urged people to ‘not let the terrorists win’ and enjoy their time.
But they have been forced to work around the clock to ensure the safety of millions of sports supporters, music fans and festivalgoers.
Soldiers have already been stationed at sites including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and at nuclear and MoD sites in Scotland, to free up extra armed police.
Police will create an unprecedented ring of security around Glasgow’s Hampden Park today for the Scottish Cup Final.
More than 50,000 fans of Celtic and Aberdeen will be forced to go through an ‘outer cordon’ manned by officers on streets surrounding the national stadium.
When they successfully pass through that, they will be subject to further body and bag searches on the approach to the ground, where armed officers will be positioned.
Large bags and musical instruments have been banned from the stadium and the turnstiles will open 30 minutes earlier than normal, at 1pm. A minute’s
‘Do not let the terrorists win’ ‘Avoid congregating in large numbers’
silence will take place before kick-off in honour of the 22 Manchester victims and teams of both sides will wear black armbands out of respect for the dead.
Fans travelling to the game have also been asked to avoid ‘congregating in large numbers’ at stations which could ‘frighten members of the public that something has happened’.
British Transport Police have also warned that fans will see enhanced security on trains and at stations, where armed officers from Police Scotland will also be on duty.
New security guidance has also been issued at several venues, including the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) which incorporates the SSE Hydro, Clyde Auditorium (Armadillo) and SEC Centre in Glasgow.
The SEC is hosting the Ideal Home Show this weekend and officials have warned that people attending events should expect body searches, extra ticket checks and restrictions on bag sizes.
Earlier this week there was increased security at the SEC for an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s European cup victory in Lisbon.
Organisers of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival said there will be more police in and around the course and city.
In Manchester alone, police are mounting substantial operations at the Manchester Games, the Great Manchester Run and a rock concert at Emirates Old Trafford.
There is likely to be increased security at the Hay Literary Festival, Hay-onWye, Radio 1’s Big Weekend music festival in Hull, The Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth, Luton International Carnival, and county shows in Shropshire and Northumberland.
English Heritage said there will be extra searches at some locations including Stonehenge and Dover Castle.