POLICE MAKE ARRESTS
Woman officer killed in stadium blast
POLICE HAVE confirmed they are investigating a “network” in connection with the Manchester bombing as it emerged an off-duty female officer was killed in the atrocity.
In other developments detectives made a further four arrests in connection with the investigation, taking the number of people in custody to five yesterday afternoon.
Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more seriously injured when Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a device as fans left Manchester Arena, where US star Ariana Grande had performed on Monday night.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the level of activity in the probe is “intense” and continuing “at pace”.
Asked if officers are looking for the person who made the bomb, he said: “I think it’s very clear that this is a network that we are investigating and as I’ve said, it continues at pace, this extensive investigation is going on and activity taking place across Greater Manchester as we speak.”
Mr Hopkins confirmed to reporters that one of the victims of the attack was a serving police officer but provided no further details.
It has been reported that the policewoman’s husband is critically ill and her two children were injured.
In a statement Mr Hopkins said: “I would like to confirm that we are confident that we have now spoken to all the immediate families of those who sadly died in Monday’s attack and they are all now being supported by specially trained officers.
“Due to the number of victims, forensic post-mortems are likely to take between four and five days. After this we will be in a position to formally name the victims with guidance from the coroner.
“We have also spoken to all of the families and all of those who are currently lying injured in hospital and are doing all we can to support them.
“You will be aware that the level of activity in this investigation is intense and is continuing at pace.”
He continued: “People will have seen a significant increase in the number of armed officers in Greater Manchester.
“We have been supported by forces in the North West and beyond in order to do this and this all forms part of our tried and tested plan for a major terrorist incident.
“With the threat level being increased to critical you will be aware that military are supporting policing across the country. This is about using the military across sites in London and elsewhere to free up armed police officers to support police forces.”
Three men were arrested yesterday morning in connection with the Manchester concert bombing and a woman was later held after a raid on a flat near Picadilly Station. The men were detained after police executed warrants in south Manchester.
Armed police swooped on a street in Wigan as they made the fifth arrest in the investigation into the Manchester bombing yesterday afternoon.
The town centre was in lockdown as officers carrying automatic weapons carried out the raid. Witnesses say a man was tackled to the ground in Upper Dicconson Street after he was seen with a suspicious package.
Photographs shared on social media appear to show him being led away by plain clothes officers with their faces covered.
Wigan Council warned people to avoid the area because of an “ongoing police incident”.
A nearby nursery, Little Acorns, was put into lockdown and warned parents not to come to collect their children.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement released last night: “We have made an arrest in Wigan in connection with the investigation into the horrific incident at Manchester Arena.
“The man was carrying a package which we are currently assessing, a police cordon remains in place while this is carried out.”
You will be aware that the level of activity... is intense. Ian Hopkins, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable.