Searches continue as suspect package deemed safe
A SUSPICIOUS package which prompted an alert in a street in inner city Manchester was deemed safe yesterday.
An army bomb disposal team was sent to the scene in Hulme and several roads were closed, including Linby Street and Jackson Street.
But Greater Manchester Police later said the incident “has now been deemed safe and the cordon has been removed”.
Chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “This continues to be a fastmoving investigation and there has been a significant amount of activity taking place throughout the night and this morning. I want to provide you with an update about the progress of the investigation to date.
“You will all be aware that officers are currently responding to an incident in Hulme. A suspicious package has now been deemed safe and the cordon has now been removed. Can I stress at this stage that this incident is not necessarily linked to the wider investigation but I hope people will understand that we will always take any reports seriously.
“As regards the full ongoing investigation, we currently have eight people who have been arrested in connection with Monday’s attack. They are all men. A woman who was arrested yesterday has since been released. The arrests have taken place in Manchester, Wigan and Nuneaton. We are now carrying out associated searches at a number of addresses.”
He added: “These have been an intense three days for the officers and staff of Greater Manchester Police, along with the National Counter Terrorist Policing Network and UK intelligence services. I want to reassure people that the arrests that we have made are significant, and initial searches of premises have revealed items that we believe are very important to the investigation.
“These searches will take several days to complete, as you would expect, therefore there will be some disruption. However, it is important that we continue with these searches.
“Alongside the investigation we have a team of specially trained officers who have been supporting the families of those who tragically lost their lives. As this morning’s incident in Hulme shows it remains important for people to... report any concerns to us through the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789321 or to police on 999.”