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:
British police are hunting for accomplices who may have helped Salman Abedi build a suicide bomb which killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester on Monday, a source with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters.
"The question is: Was he acting alone or was he part of a network of others who want to kill. That is what the investigation is focusing on," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The concern is that there may be others out there who helped him to make the bomb. Making a bomb of this sort requires a certain level of expertise and competence."
The father of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi has said his son is innocent.
He confirmed UK police have arrested another son, believed to be 23-year-old Ismail Abedi.
The father told the Associated Press from Tripoli: "We don't believe in killing innocents. This is not us."
Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins has confirmed that one of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack was a serving police officer.
Salman Abedi's father also confirmed his son was in Libya six weeks ago and was preparing to visit Saudi Arabia.
Mr Hopkins said police are carrying out extensive searches when asked if they had found the bomb factory.
He confirmed police were investigating a network.
There are no military personnel patrolling the streets of Manchester and there are no plans for them to do so, Mr Hopkins added.
The female police officer who killed in the attack was from Cheshire Police, a police source told Adam Lusher.
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