U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday the threat level in the U.K. has been raised from severe to critical following Monday's attack in Manchester.
What we're learning about the victims and the suicide bomber behind the attack, on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m.
Critical is the highest of the five threat levels. Soldiers will now be deployed at public events and the change indicates that another attack may be imminent.
May said the U.K. could not ignore the possibility that more individuals are linked to the Manchester Arena attack.
The man suspected of carrying out the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert was identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, police said today. At least 22 people died and more than 50 were injured in the blast.
Abedi died at the scene after using an improvised explosive device, officials said. Police are still trying to determine if he acted alone or was part of a group.
The suspect was originally identified as a 23-year-old male according to a source; police have now said the suspect was 22.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in South Manchester in connection with the attack, police said. Police also said authorities executed two warrants as part of the investigation: one in the Whalley Range district of Manchester and one in the Manchester suburb of Fallowfield, where a controlled explosion took place.
Greater Manchester Police are requesting dashcam footage from "anyone who was in Manchester city centre" between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday night as part of their investigation.
A 39-year-old man was also arrested in Birmingham today near a vigil for the attack. The man is "known to police and is thought to have a history of mental ill-health," Birmingham police said in a statement. A small ax and large stick were recovered at the vigil, police said.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the explosion. In a statement translated from Arabic, ISIS said that a "soldier of the caliphate" placed explosives at a gathering of "crusaders" — meaning Christians — at the Manchester Arena. The statement said about 30 people were killed and about 70 more were wounded.
The explosion is being treated as a terrorist attack.
Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to the Manchester Arena just before 10:35 p.m. local time on Monday. The explosion happened near the arena's foyer after the concert, according to witnesses, who reported hearing a bang as they exited.
Twelve children under the age of 16 were seriously injured, officials said.
"We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young children not as a scene to cherish but as an opportunity for carnage," May said today.
