Timeline of lapses that aided killer
HOW police and security blundering allowed the bomber to strike:
6pm The doors to the Manchester Arena were opened and 14,200 people flooded into the venue. Some of those arriving had been given their tickets to watch Ariana Grande as a Christmas or birthday gift.
8.30pm Terrorist Abedi is caught on CCTV arriving at the neighbouring Victoria Metrolink Station. He has his packed rucksack on his shoulders and heads to the public toilets, where he remains for 10 minutes.
8.49pm British Transport Police PCSOs conduct a security sweep moments after Abedi left the toilets. They missed him by 59 seconds.
8.51pm The killer is then spotted in the City Room – the foyer of the Manchester Arena. He had taken a lift from the public toilets to the footbridge and on to the concourse. He stayed there for 19 minutes and was unseen. Then he moved to the Metrolink platform and sat down for 16 minutes.
9.36pm A BTP officer and PCSO returned to the area after spending two hours on a break getting kebabs. By mere minutes, they missed the terrorist walking from the station to the City Room.
9.29pm The terrorist arrived in the City Room and remained until people began filing out.
10.15pm A member of the public approaches security about Abedi. The security guard then goes to his colleague who tries to radio it in, but they said the line was busy.
10.31pm The terrorist detonated his device, killing 22 innocents standing in the foyer. Another 264 people were injured.
10.33pm Greater Manchester Police are alerted to the bomb blast and within six minutes it is declared a major incident.
10.42pm The first paramedic arrives at Victoria station. Two more follow but they are the only ones to enter the arena during the whole evening. Armed police also arrive and close the road. There are 12 ambulances by 10.49pm.
12.37am Three fire crews get there at 12.37am. They had earlier been told to wait three miles away at Philips Park Fire Station.
2.46am By this time everyone injured had been removed from the scene.