| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 23.05.17 |
| Publication Date | 23/05/2017 |
| Content Type | News |
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Twenty-two people, including children, were killed and 59 injured in a suspected suicide attack at Manchester Arena at the end of a pop concert on the 22 May 2017. Greater Manchester Police reported that the lone male attacker Salman Abedi, who died in the blast, was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated. Subsequently, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, although the veracity of this claim could not initially be proved. United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May chaired two meetings of the government's emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRa / COBR) committee on the 23 May 2017. After the second COBR meeting it was announced that as a result of a recommendation from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) the UK would raise the terror threat level to 'critical' - the highest possible level - meaning that a further attack 'may be imminent'. This would permit the greater use of armed military personnel in support of armed police officers. During the succeeding days police and the security services carried out substantial investigations into the background and movements of Salman Abedi, including recent visits outside the UK to Libya. In particular, the authorities were keen to see if he was part of a wider and coordinated terrorist network. By the 27 May 2017 police had arrested eleven suspects as part of their continuing investigations. UK officials working on the investigations liaised intensively with European police forces in a number of countries including Belgiu,, France and Germany and issued requests to Europol, Interpol and American officials in relation to Libya. JTAC took the decision on the 27 May 2017 to reduce the threat level from critical to severe. Political parties suspended campaigning for the 8 June 2017 general election for a number of days. European and international leaders condemned the attack. This incident followed an earlier terrorist attack in Westminster, London on the 22 March 2017. The death toll made it the worst event of its kind in the United Kingdom since the 7 July 2005 bombing, which hit London’s transport network, killing 52 people. UK authorities made extensive use of European information systems in the post attack investigations. Several pointed out the importance of continued access to these databases and line of communication after the UK had left the EU. For more information on this issue click here. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-40010124 |
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| Subject Categories | Security and Defence |
| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
