How could they?
Eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos among 22
dead after suicide bomber targets pop concert ‘Kids screamed, ‘I’ve lost my mummy’’ – witnesses describe scenes of carnage
59 rushed to hospital, 12 of them children
Terrorist named as British-born jihadist Salman Abedi
PM raises threat level to ‘critical’
Military could be deployed to support armed police
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-year-old 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.”
Police confirmed Abedi’s name after armed officers carried out a dramatic raid at the red-brick semi in south Manchester where the 22-year-old 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-yearold 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, 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 home-made 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 Ariana Grande.
As counter-terrorism agencies mounted a massive inquiry into the outrage – the worst terrorist attack since 52 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 twenties;
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; 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”.
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.”
She later signed a book of condolence at Manchester Town Hall, writing: “Here in this great city a callous and cowardly act was met by the inspirational bravery of our emergency services and the unbreakable spirit of the people of Manchester.
“As we remember those who died, their
loved ones and those who were injured, we will celebrate those who helped, safe in the knowledge that terrorism never wins and our values, our country and our way of life will 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-yearold John Atkinson, from Bury, who was named by friends on Facebook as an apparent victim.
Meanwhile, fears were growing for Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, a couple from South Shields, 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, from Manchester, Laura MacIntyre and Eilidh MacLeod, from Barra in Scotland, Kelly Brewster, from Sheffield, and Martyn Hett, from Stockport, and Wendy Fawell. All were believed to have been at the concert and had not been traced since the attack.
The bomb was designed to cause maximum carnage, sending metal fragments flying through the foyer.
Student Alicia Hattersley described the horrific moment the terror struck, telling the Manchester Evening News: “We could see young girls tumbling down the stairs to get away from the explosion... There were kids screaming, ‘I’ve lost my mummy’. There were children crying and parents screaming that they had lost their family. Everyone was running for their lives.”
A rough sleeper tearfully described the scene as he rushed to help.
Chris Parker, 33, who was in the foyer, where he regularly goes to beg for money as concert crowds head home, recalled: “Everyone was piling out, all happy and everything else.
“As people were coming out of the glass doors I heard a bang and within a split second I saw a white flash, then smoke and then I heard screaming.”