The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
The grim toll starts to unfold
Threat level raised to critical in the UK, meaning new attack may be imminent Suicide bomber suspect named by police as Salman Albedi, 22 Fife dad’s relief as daughter returns home safe from bombed concert
Britain is braced for further terrorist attacks following the Manchester atrocity as Theresa May said last night the threat level was being raised to its highest possible rating.
In a live televised statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the terror threat level would be increased to “critical”, meaning an attack was expected imminently.
In a sign of the increased threat, the military could be deployed to support armed police officers, Mrs May said.
Meanwhile, the suicide bomber who brought carnage to Manchester Arena on Monday night was named as Salman Abedi.
Police confirmed his name after armed officers carried out a dramatic raid on the red brick semi-detached house in south Manchester where the 22-year-old, believed to have been of Libyan decent, was registered as living.
Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said detectives were working to establish whether Abedi, whose attack left 22 people dead, including an eight-year-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.”
Abedi had been a student at Salford University.
Residents of Elsmore Road in Fallowfield where he lived described being ordered to remain indoors as more than 20 armed officers 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 a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande.
As counter-terrorism agencies mounted a massive inquiry, the first victims were confirmed as eight-yearold Saffie Rose Roussos from Leyland and teenager Georgina Callander from nearby Chorley.
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.
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”.
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, 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.”
Meanwhile, fears were growing for Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, a couple from South Shields, 15-yearold Olivia Campbell from Manchester and Eilidh MacLeod, from Barra, Kelly Brewster from Sheffield, and Martyn Hett and Wendy Fawell.
All were believed to have been at the concert and had not been traced since the attack.