The suicide bomber who killed 22 people at the MEN Arena in Manchester last night has been named as Salman Abedi.
23-year-old Abedi set off the explosive near the box office of the venue at the Ariana Grande concert.
He was reportedly known to authorities prior to last night’s attacks.
According to The Telegraph:
Born in Manchester in 1994, the second youngest of four children his parents were Libyan refugees who came to the UK to escape the Gaddafi regime.
His mother, Samia Tabbal, 50, and father, Ramadan Abedi, a security officer, were both born in Libya but appear to have emigrated to London before moving to the Fallowfield area of south Manchester where they have lived for at least ten years.
Abedi is reported to have grown up in the Whalley Range area, just yards from the local girl’s high school, which hit the headlines in 2015 when twins Zahra and Salma Halane left their homes and moved to Isil controlled Syria.
There were unconfirmed reports in Manchester that the whole family apart from the two elder sons recently returned to Libya.
BREAKING: US officials: British authorities have identified suspected Manchester suicide bomber as Salman Abedi.
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 23, 2017
The disgusting terrorist attack left at least 22 people dead, most of them under the age of 18, while over 120 others were injured.
NEW: video from inside the Ariana concert in Manchester when the explosion took place. pic.twitter.com/7vu4ATEzpP
— The Rouser (@RouserNews) May 23, 2017
In a statement issued by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins at 03:00am this morning, he said:
Currently we have 19 people confirmed to have lost their lives in the casualty. My thoughts are with those who are injured and have lost their lives. We are doing all we can to support them and their families.
An emergency number is available for all those concerned about their loved ones. That number is 0161 856 9400.
We are currently treating this as a terrorist incident.
As you will understand we are still receiving information.
Latest statement on incident at Manchester Arena @CCIanHopkins pic.twitter.com/GEABqAk5rr
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
The attack was carried out by a single male attacker, carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated.
In the aftermath of the attack, Greater Manchester Police carried out a precautionary controlled explosion in Cathedral Gardens, but it turned out to be an unattended item of clothing.
Officers carrying out a precautionary controlled explosion in Cathedral Garden confirm that it was abandoned clothing, not a suspicious item
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
Speaking to UNILAD, 19-year-old Sebastian Diaz, a witness at the scene, said:
Just finished and about to leave into the foyer and there was a massive bang, people stood still and panicked. We were going to go back but we got trapped and sprinted out. People didn’t know where to go and loads of young girls were crying.
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.
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
A 23-Year-Old man was reportedly arrested in South Manchester in connection with last night’s terror attack.
So far three victims of the harrowing attack have been named as eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos , 18-year-old Georgina Callander, and 26-year-old John Atkinson.
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
A vigil is set to be held at 6pm in Albert Square to pay respects to the victims and show solidarity in Manchester.
Our thoughts are with all the victims’ families at this troubling time.
