Armed police officers stand next to a police cordon outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England, Britain, May 23, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)
Greater Manchester Police said they arrested a 23-year old man in connection with the suicide bombing attack at the Manchester Arena. The terror attack killed 22 people and injured dozens at a British concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande.
“With regards to last night’s incident at the Manchester Arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester,” GMP said on Twitter on Tuesday.
The explosion went off near the box office area and unconfirmed reports from witnesses on the scene indicated a nail bomb. The attacker, who has been identified by officials, reportedly carried a bomb in a backpack. Sources tell People’s Pundit Daily the attacker’s name is Salman Abedi, a 23-year old man.
Prime Minister Theresa May, speaking outside her residence at 10 Downing Street, said law enforcement and counter-terror authorities were not ready to confirm or announce the identity.
“We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack,” Prime Minister May said in a statement.
She also said the attacker had carried out the attack alone, though it was not yet clear if others had helped in the preparation. Sources tell People’s Pundit Daily the level of sophistication with the device appears to point at least potentially to an organization.
Manchester Arena is the largest indoor arena in Europe, opened in 1995 with a capacity for 21,000 people. Being an Ariana Grande concert, the audience was young. The U.S. State Department had previously issued a travel warning for all of Europe and warned citizens not to avoid crowded events.
Dr. Sebastian Gorka, the Deputy Assistant to President Donald J. Trump, noted that the Manchester “explosion” took place on the 4th anniversary of the public murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. “Dates matter to Jihadi terrorists,” as Dr. Gorka noted.
