Manchester bombing: Sophisticated terror plot hints killer did not act alone, expert says
THE “sophisticated” nature of the Manchester suicide bomber’s IED device has not been seen in Britain since the 7/7 bombing, leading some experts to believe the terrorist was not working alone.
Homeless man describes helping victims of Manchester attack
The improvised explosive device, believed to have been packed with nuts, bolts and screws, killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester on Monday evening in one of the worst terror attacks Britain has ever seen.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former head of chemical and biological weapons for the British Army and NATO, believes what we know about the terror plot so far suggests the bomber 22-year-old bomber Salman Abedi was not acting alone.
He told the Mirror: "It shows to me a capability you can't just learn on the internet so I would be very surprised if the attacker worked alone.
"They would need to get hold of the explosives which aren’t readily available. They would need to get hold of various devices to form the detonator.
"It would need around a kilo of explosives to have that sort of effect."
Chris Parker, a 33-year-old homeless man, revealed how he rushed to help those caught up in the devastating terror attack at Manchester Arena on Monday night.
He said: "I haven't stopped crying. The most shocking part of it is that it was a kids' concert.
"There were nuts and bolts all over the floor. People had holes in their back. I don't think anything has sunk in yet. It's just shock."
Mr Bretton-Gordon believes this type of attack means anti-terror police will have to adjust to deal with the threat.
He added: “Now we know their method of attack in this case we can and will put in place effective mitigation measures.
“It might take a bit longer to get into certain airports, arenas and sports grounds but so be it.
"Sometimes we must be prepared to suffer a little and fight for our precious democracy.
“We did not give in to Hitler or terror attacks from the IRA or Al-Qaeda and will not bow to these vile jihadists.”
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that the UK terror threat level has been increased to ‘critical’, meaning another attack could be imminent.
Speaking in Downing Street following an emergency COBRA meeting, she said: "The work undertaken throughout the day has revealed it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack."
She said: “This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent.”
The Prime Minister said Operation Temperer, allowing military personnel to take to the streets, was now in force.
She explained: “This means that armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces, which will allow the police to significantly increase the number of armed officers on patrol in key locations.
"You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events such as concerts and sports matches, helping the police to keep the public safe.”