Manchester terror suspect arrested at Heathrow

A MAN has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of terror offences in connection with the Manchester Arena bombing.

The 38-year-old was held as part of a planned operation and there was no direct threat to the airport, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

A total of seven men are in custody over last month’s atrocity that left 22 people dead, including seven children, and scores injured.

On Tuesday, police said suicide bomber Salman Abedi may have stored items used to assemble his improvised explosive device in a Nissan Micra.

GMP said “significant evidence” was found in the white car, which has an R registration plate and was seized from Devell House in Rusholme on Friday. The force issued photos of the car and a red and black holdall and appealed for anyone who recognised either to come forward.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said police were continuing to track the movements Abedi made in the days leading up to the May 22 attack.

He said: “Our investigation has also revealed that Abedi made repeated trips to and from this car between May 18-22 and we believe he was taking items from the car to help assemble the device. The car was sold by a previous keeper on April 13 2017. Abedi left the country on April 15 and it is vital that we understand what happened to this car during these few days between April 13-15.”

On Tuesday, a police officer outside a flat belonging to Salman Abedi’s brother Ismail in nearby Whalley Range told reporters that the property was still “an active crime scene”.

Salman Abedi, whose family are of Libyan origin, died after detonating an improvised explosive device as people began leaving a show by US singer Ariana Grande.

A total of 19 people have been arrested during the massive operation that followed, although 12 have since been released without charge.

On Tuesday an 18-year-old man – understood to be Abedi’s cousin – and two other men were freed. Salman’s brother Ismail, 23, was released on Monday, while his other cousins, Isaac Forjani, 24, and Abz Forjani, 21, both from Fallowfield, were among those released last week.

The attacker’s father, Ramadan Abedi, was arrested in Tripoli on May 24, along with Salman’s younger brother Hashim, 20, who Libyan security forces said were “aware of all the details” of the attack.