Police find ‘significant’ car in bomber probe

Roads closed and evacuated during investigation

Police investigating the Manchester suicide bombing have seized a car which they say could be “significant” to the investigation.

They said inquiries concerning the white Nissan Micra, found at Devell House, Rusholme, were continuing.

A 100m cordon was put in place after the car was found in the area near Banff Road, where police say suicide bomber Salman Abedi had visited in the days leading up to the attack.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said: “This is potentially a significant development in the investigation.

“The car is a white Nissan Micra that has been located at Devell House, not far from Banff Road.

“We appreciate the road closures and evacuation have led to disruption and we would like to thank local people for their understanding while this police activity has been ongoing.

“We are also really grateful for the public’s continued help in what is a very fast moving investigation and again we appeal for the public to contact us with any information, however small you believe it may be, about Abedi’s movements.”

A Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal team was called to the area yesterday and forensics officers were on scene.

The cordon was lifted at about 7.30pm after a lorry believed to be carrying the car drove away.

Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for families of patients at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, was evacuated as police carried out assessments on the vehicle and residents of nearby student accommodation were told to leave their homes.

The development came as the Duke of Cambridge visited the city and met police officers and volunteers before paying a visit to Manchester Royal Infirmary to meet some of those injured in the attack on May 22.

CCTV images have been released showing Abedi hauling a blue suitcase in the days leading up to the Manchester Arena terror attack, which killed 22 people including seven children.

Abedi’s cousins have claimed the 22-year-old plotted “secretly to himself” before the atrocity.

Brothers Isaac and Abz Forjani, who were arrested by armed police soon after the attack before being released without charge, said they had been left “traumatised” by their cousin’s actions.

Abz, 21, told the BBC: “For people who have seen it as a big network we were involved in, it was nothing like that.

“I believe it was all done by one man which developed some sort of thoughts in the past few years which he kept secretly to himself.”

Ten men, aged between 18 and 44, remain in custody on suspicion of terrorism offences in connection with the attack, police have said.

We appeal for the public to contact us with any information, however small you believe it may be, about Abedi’s movements. DET CH SUPT RUSS JACKSON

Police have released these new images from CCTV to help jog people’s memories.