Manchester Arena: police confirm 'there are a number of fatalities' after reports of explosion at Ariana Grande concert

Oh, what a surprise, it was the New York Times - again.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/may/24/manchester-arena-bombing-terror-attack-victims-threat-critical-ariana-grande-concert-live-news

The New York Times has just released a series of images it says show components of the bomb used in the Manchester attack and suggests it was a sophisticated, powerful device.

The paper says that preliminary analysis of the device by British authorities suggests it was a powerful explosive that was carried in a “lightweight metal container concealed either within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack”. It adds that the bomber is thought to have “held a small detonator in his left hand”.

That paper is a menace.

British police have arrested a seventh person in connection with the Manchester Arena bombing.

The man was held Wednesday after police carried out searches in the English town of Nuneaton, which is about 161 kilometers (100 miles) south of Manchester.

His arrest was the first in England to take place outside of Manchester since the bombing.

Greater Manchester Police says six men and one woman remain in custody as the department investigates the Monday night bombing that killed 22 people.

The attack took place at the end of a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.
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A Libyan anti-terror force that arrested the brother of the alleged Manchester bomber says he had links to the Islamic State extremist group and was aware of his brother's plans.

The Special Deterrent anti-terror force said in a statement on its Facebook page that the arrest took place in Tripoli as Hashim Abedi was receiving cash transferred from his brother, Salman.

British authorities have identified 22-year-old Salman Abedi as the suspected bomber in the attack at Manchester arena on Monday night.

The force's statement says: "The brother was aware of all the details of the terrorist attack."

The Libyan security force claimed that Hashim Abedi told authorities that both he and his brother belonged to IS.

The Facebook statement says Hashim left Britain for Libya in April.

Theresa May expected to raise US intelligence leaks with Donald Trump at Nato summit.

Theresa May is expected to raise UK concerns over the leaking of intelligence about the Manchester bomb attack to the US press when she meets Donald Trump on Thursday.

British ministers have voiced their anger to American counterparts after photographs apparently showing bloodstained fragments from the Manchester concert bomb were published in the New York Times (NYT).

The pictures appeared a day after the bomber's name was briefed to the US media against the wishes of Greater Manchester Police, and just hours after Home Secretary Amber Rudd issued a plea to US authorities not to leak material about the atrocity.

The disclosure is regarded as "completely unacceptable" by Britain, both because of the distress it may cause families of those killed or injured and because of the risk it could complicate ongoing investigations.

The row - which goes to the heart of the close intelligence-sharing relationship between the transatlantic allies - provides an awkward backdrop to the Prime Minister's meeting with President Trump at the Nato summit in Brussels.

A Whitehall source said: "We are furious. This is completely unacceptable.

"These images leaked from inside the US system will be distressing for victims, their families and the wider public.

"The issue is being raised at every relevant level by the British authorities with their US counterparts."

Ms Rudd said on Wednesday morning she was "irritated" by the early release of Salman Abedi's name and had made "very clear" to American counterparts that no further leaks should happen.

The Home Office declined to respond to the new leak, but pointed reporters to Ms Rudd's earlier comments in a clear indication that her stance had not changed.

A Downing Street spokesman made no comment.

The new pictures show torn scraps from a blue Karrimor rucksack as well as screws and nuts used as shrapnel and a metal item which the newspaper suggests could have been part of the bomb's detonator.

The NYT described them as "law enforcement images" but did not make clear how they had been obtained.

The nature of the photographs - one of which includes a ruler placed alongside the detonator - allowed no doubt that they were taken as part of the forensic investigation of the scene, and are not snapshots taken by members of the public.

The paper also published a map showing the location of the victims of the bombing, positioned in a circle around the site of the explosion in the arena foyer, as well as what is thought to be Abedi's torso some distance away.

The Home Secretary said she did not believe that the Americans had compromised the investigation.

But she added: "Quite frankly, the British police have been very clear that they want to control the flow of information in order to protect operational integrity, the element of surprise, so it is irritating if it gets released from other sources and I have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again."

Congressman Adam Schiff, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, said: "If we gave up information that has interfered in any way with their investigation because it tipped off people in Britain - perhaps associates of this person that we identified as the bomber - then that's a real problem and they have every right to be furious."

The row is a fresh source of embarrassment for the US, a week after the Prime Minister was forced to give assurances that Britain still has confidence in the special relationship amid concerns relating to Mr Trump's disclosure of classified information to senior Russian officials.

Britain's intelligence links with the US are among the closest in the world, and information is routinely shared by security and intelligence agencies as part of the special relationship between the transatlantic allies.   Diagrams/photos at link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/24/theresa-may-expected-raise-us-intelligence-leaks-donald-trump/

Congressman Adam Schiff, a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, said: "If we gave up information that has interfered in any way with their investigation because it tipped off people in Britain - perhaps associates of this person that we identified as the bomber - then that's a real problem and they have every right to be furious."

I find it disgraceful that 'US intelligence' cannot keep its mouth shut. They should be ashamed of themselves, IMO.

However - I wouldn't jump to the conclusion it's Trump's fault. These pics were published by the supposedly-respectable, progressive New York Times, not Breitbart.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/25/manchester-arena-bombing-latest/

Greater Manchester Police have stopped sharing security information about the Manchester attack with the US following a series of leaks, it was reported today.

Theresa May is set to confront Donald Trump over the leaks about the suicide bomb attack after Ariana Grande’s concert at Manchester Arena.

Sky are reporting that the UK government is "furious".

I have to confess, I have a very bad feeling about this. I can think of NO good reason for 'US intelligence' to be trying to screw up this huge investigation, unless they are worried about something.

Like, the whole Libya business, and Obama/Clinton running arms to terrorists via Benghazi. Something smells very badly to me, but I will be happy to be proven wrong.

More here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40040210

Manchester attack: Police 'not sharing information with US'

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Mrs May 'has words' with Trumper.   Unlike Thatcher, who tended to go into screech mode at times like this, I think Mrs May will be measured in her comments but she strikes me as having a steely edge to her while still maintaining a calm exterior.    Maybe heads will roll when he gets back home?    LL 

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Mrs May 'has words' with Trumper.

Me too, LL, this is just appalling. I am afraid I suspect its something more sinister than some clown in 'US intelligence' being unable to keep their trap shut. It smacks of actively trying to wreck the UK investigation, IMO.



https://order-order.com/2017/05/25/8-us-intelligence-leaks-that-infuriated-british-government/

Theresa May is protesting to President Trump over the slew of leaks from US officials which British police say are “undermining” the Manchester bombing investigation. Ministers and Whitehall officials are openly briefing against Washington, the National Police Chiefs Council said trust has been “breached” and things are so serious the US Ambassador has had to take a phone call from Andy Burnham. The BBC is reporting that police have stopped passing them information on the Manchester attack…

Here’s a rundown of the leaks so far:

Casualty figures and attack method. Leaked to NBC and CBS.
Salman Abedi’s name. Reported on US breakfast television at least six hours before British authorities released it.
Abedi’s brother arrested. Leaked to Politico.
Device spec: secret British analysis of the “sophisticated” device. Leaked to NBC.
Bomber ID process: via a bank card found on his body. Leaked to NBC.
Al Qaeda link. Leaked to NBC.
Crime scene pics bag / device. Leaked to New York Times.
Bombmaking workshop in Abedi’s home. Leaked to ABC News.
The FT reports today that bomb site analysis is shared between a select group of allies via an encrypted portal. It is never intended to appear in public…

They certainly hit every branch of the Ugly Tree.......

Armed officers deployed to trains across UK.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British Transport Police says armed officers will patrol some U.K. trains for the first time because of the increased threat of extremist attacks.

The patrols will begin Thursday afternoon. Officials say the plan is to "ensure that the travelling public are kept safe on the rail network." Armed officers have patrolled London Underground subway trains since December, but the move announced Thursday expands the security measure to train services elsewhere in the country.

British Transport Police Chief Constable Paul Crowther says the force has "radically increased" its presence since the Monday night attack in Manchester.

UK bomber said to have pleaded 'Forgive me' before blast

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The suspect in the deadly Manchester concert bombing was driven by what he saw as unjust treatment of Arabs in Britain, a relative said Thursday, confirming he made a final phone call in which he pleaded: "Forgive me."

Salman Abedi was particularly upset by the killing last year of a Muslim friend whose death he believed went unnoticed by "infidels" in the U.K., said the relative, speaking on condition of anonymity over concerns for her own security.

"Why was there no outrage for the killing of an Arab and a Muslim in such a cruel way?" she asked. "Rage was the main reason," for the blast that killed 22 at the end of an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on Monday, she said, speaking by telephone from Libya.

The new insight into Abedi's motivation came as Britons faced stepped-up security, authorities pushed forward with raids and the investigation extended across Europe into Libya, where most of the suspected bomber's family lived.

https://www.mail.com/int/entertainment/music/5222130-uk-bomber-to-pleaded-forgive-me-blast.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

UK police make new arrest in concert bombing investigation

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British police investigating the Manchester Arena bombing made a new arrest Friday while continuing to search addresses associated with the attacker who killed 22 people. Seven other men are in custody in connection with Monday's blast, all are being held on suspicion of offenses violating the Terrorism Act. Their ages ranged from 18 to 38.

A 16-year-old boy who had been arrested was released without charge, police said. Britain's security level has been upgraded to "critical" meaning officials believe another attack may be imminent. Authorities are chasing possible links between the bomber, Salman Abedi, and militants in Manchester, elsewhere in Europe, and in North Africa and the Middle East. More at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/uk/5225370-uk-police-arrest-concert-bombing-investigation.html#.1258-stage-hero1-3

Scotland's Finest reporting for ticket-collecting duty!

A particularly attractive walking bin bag:




Criticism: Viewers questioned one woman's decision to be interviewed in a burka printed with weapons spelling out the word 'love', pictured

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4540888/Viewers-blast-woman-wore-burka-printed-weapons.html#ixzz4iCjqfDus
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Have you ever seen anything so ridiculous? Moreover, it's clear she has NO intention whatsoever of even trying to integrate with British society.

Damaged Manchester train station remains closed.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) - A British train company says that a station in Manchester damaged in Monday's bombing attack will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Northern rail said Friday that Manchester Victoria Station "suffered structural damage that still needs to be properly assessed and repaired. Until the work is completed, the station will remain closed."

The station directly links to Manchester Arena, where a British man of Libyan descent exploded a suicide bomb that killed 22 people and wounded scores of others after an Ariana Grande concert. Northern Railway says train services "that would normally run into Manchester Victoria are unable to do so," meaning "significant disruption" for trains in and around Manchester.

I didn't realise the station had been damaged as well by the blast.

bb1 wrote:I didn't realise the station had been damaged as well by the blast.

Some time since I have been to Manchester but as I remember the Arena foyer can be accessed from the station foyer, I think you can just walk straight from one to the other. LL

Ah, thanks, LL, I don't know it at all.

Some kind of explosion has just happened in Mosside...

Update, no explosion, but an 'evacuation'....

http://news.sky.com/story/evacuation-in-moss-side-as-property-searched-over-manchester-attack-10894825

The UK's terror threat level has been reduced from "critical" to "severe", the Prime Minister has confirmed.

At an emergency COBRA meeting, the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre advised that the UK should return to the second-highest level, which indicates an attack is highly likely rather than imminent.

Operation Temperer, which has seen armed soldiers support police on the streets, will be gradually stood down once the bank holiday weekend ends.

Theresa May said the decision followed a "significant amount of police activity over the last 24 hours", which has led to a total of 11 suspects in police custody.

However, the Prime Minister stressed that the "country should remain vigilant" during the hundreds of events taking place this weekend - including the FA Cup final at Wembley, and the Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham....etc

Theater evacuated but nothing suspicious found.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Police say nothing suspicious has been found at London's Old Vic Theatre after a security alert prompted the evacuation of cast and audience in the middle of a performance.

Theatergoers earlier tweeted that a matinee performance of "Woyzeck" — starring "Star Wars" actor John Boyega — was halted by theater staff and audience and cast were told to leave. The police force said specialist officers searched the building and found nothing suspicious.

Thanks, LL. Problem is, when a lot of people are jittery, someone forgetting to pick up their shopping bag is liable to cause a panic.