Fresh arrests in Manchester bombing raids, 13 in custody

LONDON: British police today conducted fresh raids in Manchester and arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the concert bombing, taking the total number of those in custody over the attack to 13.

Residents described their houses shaking and hearing a loud blast as officers forced their way into the semi-detached property in Searby Road in the Gorton area of Manchester, Guardian reported.

Armed police have arrested the 19-year-old man in the raid of the former home of the Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi. Abedi was listed at the property along with his older brother, Ismail. Ismail Abedi was arrested shortly after the terror attack on Monday and remains in police custody.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said, "Today, May 28, 2017, officers investigating the attack at the Manchester Arena have executed a warrant at an address in Moss Side. A search is currently on-going."

"Officers have also arrested a 25-year-old man in the Old Trafford area on suspicion of offences contrary to the terrorism act," the spokesperson said.

The total number of arrests related to the attack have gone up to 14. However, the number of persons in custody was 13 after two were released without charge.

Britain's terror threat level was yesterday reduced to "severe" from "critical".

The terror threat level now indicates that an attack remains highly likely rather than imminent. The Army troops deployed as a result of Operation Temperer will be reduced from Monday night.

Prime Minister Theresa May made this announcement after leading a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra.

Investigators believe 22-year-old Manchester-born suicide bomber Abedi, from a family of Libyan origin, acted as part of a terrorist network and their focus had been on intercepting his wider network.

Abedi blew himself up at a concert by pop star Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena last week, killing 22 people and leaving 119 injured.

Abedi was known to UK security services, but his risk to the public remained "subject to review", according to reports.

In the Libyan capital Tripoli, Abedi's younger brother 20-year-old Hashem and their father, Ramadan, are being held by special forces linked to the country's interior ministry.

About 1,000 armed police officers have been freed up by a decision to deploy the Army to protect key sites including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament under Operation Temperer.