MANCHESTER, ENGLAND—British security forces raided a building Wednesday in central Manchester as they investigated “a network” of people allegedly behind the city’s concert bombing. Hundreds of soldiers were sent to secure key sites across the country, including Buckingham Palace and the British Parliament at Westminster.Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the bomber, Salman Abedi, “likely” did not act alone when he killed 22 people and wounded nearly 120 at an Ariana Grande concert Monday night in Manchester. She said he had been known to security forces “up to a point.” Abedi, a 22-year-old British citizen born to Libyan parents, died in the attack.“I think it’s very clear this is a network we are investigating,” Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins said, confirming that an off-duty police officer was among those killed in the attack. He also confirmed that a total of four suspects have been detained so far.Many at the concert were young girls and teens enthralled by Grande’s pop power — and those who died included an 8-year-old girl.Officials are examining Abedi’s trips to Libya as they piece together his allegiances and try to foil any new potential threats. The government said nearly 1,000 soldiers were deployed instead of police Wednesday in high-profile sites in London and elsewhere.Britain raised its threat level from terrorism to “critical” late Tuesday amid concerns that Abedi may have accomplices who are planning another attack. Abedi grew up in Manchester’s southern suburbs and once attended Salford University there.Police said three suspects were arrested Wednesday around Manchester, and Abedi’s father told The Associated Press that Abedi’s brother Ismail was arrested Tuesday in the area.Heavily armed police raided an apartment building in Manchester on Wednesday afternoon, blasting the door open with a controlled ...
|
