25 May, 2017
8pm: Rudd says Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi was known "up to a point" to the British intelligence services and police.
The suicide bomb attack killed 22 people and injured more than 60 at United States pop star Ariana Grande's concert in the northern English city on Monday night (Tuesday NZT). A Facebook page that appears to belong to Abedi shows links to several former LIFG members.
"These searches are connected to Monday's horrific attack on the Manchester Arena, but this is a fast moving investigation and we are keeping an open mind at this stage", police said in a statement.
Hashem Abedi had been in touch with attacker Salman Abedi, Bin Salem said, and had travelled from Libya to Britain last month.
"We're strong but mighty", said resident Sophia Goodman.
A string of details about the attack, including the bomber's name, have emerged from USA law enforcement sources before being released by British officials.
According to ABC News in the US, British counterterrorism authorities had already identified Abedi as a potential threat, along with hundreds of others.
Howe's stepson Jordan Howe confirmed her death on Facebook, writing: "They took a caring lovely mum and step mother away from us all she was fantastic to us all x love you loads Alison Howe xx". She said on Wednesday interviews on radio and television that London wanted to control the flow of information to "keep the element of surprise", and had been very clear with Washington "that it should not happen again".
Abedi also said he was certain Salman had not been in Syria. He did not name that victim. Britain's terrorism threat level was raised to "critical" - the highest level - on Tuesday over concern another attack could be imminent. "Another man has been arrested in the Manchester area in connection with this investigation, bringing the total number of men in custody to eight", Greater Manchester Police said.
British police identified Abedi, a 22-year-old British citizen of Libyan descent, as the Manchester Arena bomber on Tuesday. Dramatic images from the raid's start showed heavily armed officers storming the building. It means military personnel will be deployed to protect key sites. A woman detained on Wednesday was released.
The Chelsea Football Club canceled its victory parade for winning the English Premier League.
The British parliament said that it was closing its doors to non-passholders and canceled all its events.
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said evidence suggested it wasn't a lone wolf attack.
He had been studying business management at Salford University in 2014 but dropped out.
Questions have begun to swirl on Abedi's activities in Libya since it emerged that he recently visited the country.
Libya has become a hotspot for terrorism since the downfall and death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. ISIS routinely claims attacks it has no proven connection to. He is alleged of attempting a terror attack there.
The attack was the deadliest in Britain since July 7, 2005 when four suicide bombers inspired by Al-Qaeda attacked London's transport system during rush hour, killing 52 people.
Ramadan Abedi said he spoke to his 22-year-old son five days ago and he was getting ready to visit Saudi Arabia and sounded "normal".
Saffie's mother, Lisa Roussos, and her sister, Ashlee Bromwhich, survived and were being treated for their wounds in separate hospitals. The youngest victim was 8-year-old Saffie Roussos.
Here is what we know so far about the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena that targeted young concert-goers. No further details have been released.
