Manchester bombing live updates: Police are investigating 'terror network' behind suicide attack
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK terror threat has been raised to critical in the wake of the Manchester suicide bombing attack amid fears attacker Salman Abedi did not act alone.
Monday night's attack at an Ariana Grande concert left 22 people dead and injured 64. Some 20 people are being treated for "horrific injuries" in critical care and 12 of those rushed to hospital were children.
Thousands of soldiers are set to bolster police forces after Theresa May raised the threat level to the highest possible rating, meaning another atrocity is expected imminently.
Five more suspects have been arrested in relation to the attack by Greater Manchester Police in new counter-terror raids.
- Three more suspects arrested in Manchester police raids
- These are the names of the victims
- First picture of attacker Salman Abedi released
- Bomber 'travelled to Syria' and Libya before attack
- Attacker's father says his son is innocent
- More than £25,000 raised for homeless man who rushed to help
- Mancunians shut down EDL rally after terror attack
- Home Secretary condemns US for leaks of shared British intelligence
Theresa May said a "wider group of individuals" could have been involved in the Manchester Arena blast rather than just suicide bomber Abedi.
In a sign of the increased threat, the military could be deployed to support armed police officers, Ms May added during a live televised statement from Downing Street.
Monday night's attack at a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande left 22 people dead, including an eight-year-old girl, and dozens injured.
Isis has claimed responsibility for the barbaric attack, which involved a home-made device packed with nuts and bolts which exploded in the venue's foyer as thousands of young people were leaving.
Abedi, believed to have been born in Manchester and of Libyan descent, has been named as the suicide bomber.
The 22-year-old studied business at Salford University but dropped out before completing his degree.
He is thought to have attended the Manchester Islamic Centre, also known as Didsbury Mosque, along with his parents and siblings.
Elsewhere in the city, the first arrest was made in connection with the inquiry when a 23-year-old man was detained near a Morrisons in Chorlton.
The terror threat level was increased after investigations revealed he may not have acted alone.
Ms May said Operation Temperer - allowing military personnel to take to the streets - is now in force.
Counter-terrorism agencies have mounted a massive inquiry into the outrage - the worst terrorist attack since 52 innocent people were killed in the July 7 bombings in London in 2005:
Prevent, a key part of the Government’s counter terror strategy has “failed”, according to a former Home Office counter terrorism adviser.
Jahan Mahmood said if it had succeeded “we would not have seen an attack like this.”
“The fact that Theresa May has deployed army on the streets is a clear indicator that is not working," he told Sky News.
“The Government has to accept its own fault, the fact is that Prevent in its outreach is failing to engage with the most at risk.”
Ariana Grande has suspended her world tour until 5 June following Monday's terror attack that killed 22 people at her concert at the Manchester Arena.
A statement released by the singer said she wanted to pay "proper respects to those lost".
Political campaigning for the general election will resume on Friday, after a three-day pause out of respect for the victims of the Manchester terror attack.
The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party all announced they will restart low-key local campaigning on Thursday, before resuming the national contest the following day.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi was reportedly banned from Didsbury mosque after confronting an Imam who was delivering an anti-extremist sermon, Press Association reports.
Akram Ramadan, Abedi's former neighbour, said: "There was a sermon about anti-Daesh and he stood up and started calling the Imam - 'You are talking b*******.' And he gave a good stare, a threatening stare into the Imam's eyes.
"He was banned."
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