Bombing thrusts terrorism to center stage in Britain
LONDON — The Manchester bombing has thrust terrorism to center stage ahead of Britain’s hotly contested June elections, as British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday warned that “the country should remain vigilant” even as authorities say concerns about a new attack have eased.
Ms. May lowered Britain’s security threat back where it was before the Monday suicide bombing at a pop concert killed 22 people. But even though authorities appeared satisfied that they had captured most of the people they suspect to have taken part in the attack, security fears continued to reverberate through the political campaign ahead ofthe June 8 election.
“A significant amount of police activity has taken place in the last 24 hours,” Ms. May said Saturday after a meeting ofher top security advisers.
Police, meanwhile, arrested two additional suspects Saturday in Manchester, bringingthe number of people incustody to 11.
“We are getting a greatera understanding of the preparation of the bomb,” said Mark Rowley,the top counterterrorism official at Britain’s Metropolitan
The announcement came a day after Ms. May and her Labour opponent traded vicious barbs about the role British involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts has played inprovoking terrorist attacks. Before Monday’s bombing, the election had appeared firmly in the grasp of Ms. May’sConservatives.
Ms. May called the election seeking the public’s stamp of approvalfor the government’s strategy to negotiate Britain’s break from the European Union. That was suddenly on thesidelines.
“The war on terror is not working,” Labour leader Jeremy campaigning Corbyn resumedsaid Friday, after asa three-day break following the attack. Organizers preceded Mr. Corbyn’s speech with a minute’s silence to honor the 22 people who died in the bombblast. In the address, Mr. Corbyn linked Britain’s foreign wars to terrorist attacks but stressed the connection “in no way reduces the guilt of those whoattack our children.” “Many experts, including professionals in our intelligence and security services, have pointed to the connections between wars our government has supported or fought in other countries and terrorism here at home,” he said. Mr. Corbyn, a longtime critic of the Britain’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, also pledged that if he were prime minister, troops would only be deployed abroad if there was a clear need, proper resources and a plan for “lasting peace.” His opponents wasted no time in accusing him of trying topoliticize the attack. “I have been here at the G-7 working with other international leaders to fight terrorism,” Ms. May said Friday after summit meeting with top European leaders and President Donald Trump. “At the same time, Jeremy Corbyn has said that terrorist attacksPolice. areour own fault. “Therecan be no excuse for terrorism,”she said. Boris Johnson, Britain’s foreign secretary, said that Mr. Corbyn’s position was “absolutely monstrous .” Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said that Corbyn was trying to score a “political point” and that he disagreed withhis timing. Mr. Corbyn responded to the criticisms in a late-night BBC interview, saying that he wasn’t defending the “indefensible” Manchester attack but was reflecting the view that countries that want a secure future need to reflect on foreignpolicy.