REVEALED: New images show Manchester bomber Salman Abedi prowling city days before attack
POLICE have released new images showing suicide bomber Salman Abedi prowling the streets of Manchester just days before the devastating terror attack which killed 22 people and injured dozens more.
The CCTV images show 22-year-old Abedi wandering around various locations in Manchester, wearing jeans, Nike Air Jordan trainers and carrying a dark-coloured jacket over his arm.
Officers are asking people with any information on Salman Abedi’s movements to come forward as authorities try to piece together what happened in the days before the Manchester bombing.
Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said “significant progress” was being made in the investigation.
He added: “We are still working to track the movements of Salman Abedi and have already released a number of images of him, in the hope that they will jog people's memories.
“Today, we are releasing further images of Abedi, so I would ask you to look closely at them and contact us if you saw him.
“We know that Abedi left the country on April 15 and arrived back on May 18 and we now know from our inquiries that he purchased parts for the bomb after arriving back.
“What we still need to understand is if he had any of the bomb parts in his possession before he went out of the country, this is why we are tracking his movements so carefully.”
However, little is known about why Abedi went to the Banff Road area in Rusholme and police are hoping their appeal for information will shed some light on the bomber’s motive.
Mr Jackson said authorities had been conducting door-to-door inquiries but were “still not satisfied” why he was there.
He added: “We need the public's help in this. If you have previously called and have information, I would urge you to call again.
“We need your help as we piece together what happened in the lead-up to the attack and if Abedi was helped by anyone.
“Did you see Abedi in the Rusholme area between 18 and 22 May? Do you have any information about his movements on these dates?
“You may think it's insignificant, but it could be a key piece of information to assist us. We need your help as we piece together what happened in the lead-up to the attack and if Abedi was helped by anyone.”
Police have made 16 arrests in connection with the Manchester bombing, with 10 men aged between 18 and 44 still in custody.
Six people - including a 15-year-old boy, a 34-year-old woman and four men - have been released without charge.