British Police have so far announced five arrests, as hunting continues for potential accomplices who may have helped Salman Abedi build the bomb that killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester and who could be ready to kill again, The New Diplomat had gathered from a REUTERS’ report.
It was reported, Abedi’s home had been raided by special forces about 12 hours after the suicide attack. His brother, Ismail, was arrested.
As police tried to piece together the British-born Abedi’s past, Prime Minister Theresa May said security officials had raised their assessment of the threat to Britain to “critical”, indicating an attack is imminent.
Part of that threat assessment is the fear that Abedi, who blew himself up in the bomb attack, could have been working as part of a group of accomplices with possible links to militant groups who have the competence to plot and execute suicide bombings.
“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,” a source with knowledge of the probe told Reuters 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 source said.
A second source said investigators suspect an accomplice helped Abedi build the bomb and then plot the attack.
Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told reporters it was very clear that they were investigating what he called “a network”. He declined to give any further details on the investigation.
Police have so far announced four arrests and Abedi’s home was raided by special forces about 12 hours after the suicide attack. His brother, Ismail, was arrested.
A Libyan counter-terrorism force on Tuesday evening arrested his younger brother, Hashem Abedi, in the Libyan capital Tripoli on suspicion of links with Islamic State, a force spokesman told Reuters.
British security services are now trying to work out what turned Abedi, the tall, skinny son of a devout Muslim who opposed former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, into a killer.
