MANCHESTER TERROR OUTRAGE: CARDIFF AND THE WORLD MOURN VICTIMS
BRITAIN was braced for further terrorist attacks following the Manchester atrocity as Theresa May said the threat level was being raised to its highest possible rating.
In a live televised statement from Downing Street last night, the Prime Minister said the terror threat level would be increased to “critical”, meaning an attack was expected imminently as it was possible a “wider group of individuals” could have been involved in the Manchester Arena attack rather than just suicide bomber Salman Abedi.
In a sign of the increased threat, the military could be deployed to support armed police officers, Mrs May said.
Monday night’s attack at a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande left 22 people dead, including an eight-yearold girl, and dozens injured.
Speaking at Number 10, Mrs May said: “The spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain is far mightier than the sick plots of depraved terrorists.
“That is why the terrorists will never win and we will prevail.”
Thousands of people gathered for a vigil in Manchester less than 24 hours after Abedi set off the explosion.
Hundreds also turned out to pay their respects in Cardiff and Pontypridd last night, with First Minister Carwyn Jones telling members of the public outside the Senedd the victims bore “no ill will to anybody”.
A further vigil is due to take place in Bridgend tonight.
Police last night confirmed Abedi’s name after armed officers carried out a dramatic raid on the redbrick semi in south Manchester where the 22-year-old, believed to have been of Libyan descent, was registered as living.
Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said detectives were working to establish whether Abedi – whose victims included an eightyear-old girl – was working alone.
He said: “I can confirm that the man suspected of carrying out last night’s atrocity has been named as 22-year-old Salman Abedi.
“However he has not yet been formally identified and I wouldn’t wish, therefore, to comment further.
“The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”
Residents of Elsmore Road in Fallowfield where he lived described being ordered to remain indoors as more than 20 officers, all armed, swooped on the house, carrying out a controlled explosion on the front door.
Elsewhere in south Manchester the first arrest was made in connection with the inquiry when a 23-year-old man was detained near a Morrisons in Chorlton.
The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the barbaric attack involving a homemade device packed with nuts and bolts which exploded in the foyer of the Manchester Arena as thousands of young people were leaving the concert by US pop star Grande.
As counter-terrorism agencies mounted a massive inquiry into the outrage – the worst terrorist attack since 52 innocent people were killed in the July 7 bombings in London in 2005:
The first victims were confirmed as eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos from Leyland and teenager Georgina Callander from nearby Chorley. Saffie was at the concert with her mother Lisa and Saffie’s sister, Ashlee Bromwich, who is in her 20s;
Theresa May denounced the “appalling sickening cowardice” of the suicide bomber;
Many of the 59 people hurt in the attack were treated for life-threatening injuries. Twelve of those rushed to hospital were children;
Donald Trump denounced those responsible for the atrocity as “evil losers” and pledged America’s “absolute solidarity” with the people of the UK, and;
Andrew Parker, the Director General of MI5, condemned the “disgusting attack” and declared that the agency remains “relentlessly focused” on tackling the “scourge of terrorism”.
Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the city on Tuesday evening in an act of solidarity, with crowds spilling from Albert Square on to nearby roads, standing together.
Mrs May said the perpetrator had chosen the time and place of his attack deliberately to cause “maximum carnage and to kill and injure indiscriminately”.
After flying to Manchester to speak to police chiefs and medics treating some of the child victims, the Prime Minister said: “It is an absolutely barbaric attack that has taken place, to cut off young lives in this way and it is absolutely devastating, and our thoughts and prayers must be with their families and friends at this horrendous tragedy that has taken place.
“I’m very clear that the police and
the security services have the resources to ensure that they continue their investigation.”
She added: “I’ve just been hearing of police officers who were off duty turning up, wanting to ensure that they could contribute, that they could help. So many people have helped.
“That’s the great spirit of Manchester, the spirit of Britain, and one thing I’m clear is that the terrorists will not prevail.”
The death of Saffie Rose Roussos, the youngest known victim of the attack, was described by her head teacher as “heartbreaking”.
Chris Upton, of Tarleton Community Primary School, said: “Saffie was simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word.”
Another victim was named by her college as Georgina Callander, who was studying health and social care at Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire. Tributes were also paid to 26-year-old John Atkinson from Bury, who was named by friends on Facebook as an apparent victim.
There were a string of vigils across South Wales last night, with hundreds of people gathering in Pontypridd, Cardiff, and Swansea to show their solidarity with the victims of the atrocity.
Speaking on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, First Minister Carywn Jones described the attack as “appalling” and “horrific”.
“Many thousands of people went to a pop concert and many of them were young,” he said.
“They meant no ill will to anybody, they just wanted to enjoy themselves. And yet it seems somebody took it upon themselves to take the lives and injure so many of those people.”
Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas added: “It is love that will ultimately triumph over hate.”
A planned show by rock band Iron Maiden at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena tonight will go ahead – though fans have been told extra security measures will be in place following Monday’s barbaric attack.