Re: MANCHESTER ARENA Suicide Terrorist Attack: Children among 22 dead & 59 injured at Ariana Grande gig

Admin Thu 01 Jun 2017, 3:36 pm

Hero homeless man who rushed to save victims of the Manchester bomb is reunited with his mother...but he's still living rough despite £50,000 being raised to help him
Homeless man Chris Parker, 33, was in the foyer area of Manchester Arena
He cradled young girl who 'lost both her legs' and a badly hurt woman in her 60s
He's now been reunited with his mother Jessica, 57, for the first time in five years
Well-wishers have raised £50,000 to help Mr Parker turn his life around
However he has been spotted still living on the streets and has yet to get money
By Thomas Burrows for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 18:43, 30 May 2017 | UPDATED: 01:39, 31 May 2017
A homeless man who risked his life to help people caught up in the Manchester Arena attack has been reunited with his mother - but he's still living on the streets despite £50,000 being raised to help him.
Chris Parker, 33, was in the foyer area of the arena - just yards from where Salman Abedi detonated a bomb which killed 22 people.
He described cradling a young girl who had been separated from her parents and lost both her legs in the blast and helped a woman in her 60s who was badly hurt.
Jessica Parker, 57, who now lives in Norfolk, met her son at the weekend for the first time in five years.
She did not know he was homeless until seeing him on TV.
Chris Parker, pictured as a schoolboy, helped victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack and has now been reunited with his mother, Jessica   +9
Jessica Parker met her son at the weekend for the first time in five years   +9
Chris Parker, pictured as a schoolboy, helped victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack and has now been reunited with his mother, Jessica (pictured right)
Ariana Grande to join forces with Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus...
Bomb attack survivor backs Mail's Mobiles for Manchester...
After he was praised for his heroic actions, well-wishers raised £50,000 to help Mr Parker turn his life around.
However on Tuesday morning Marissa Lowe, from Rochdale, spotted him near Victoria Station, close to where last Monday's atrocity took place.
Speaking to MailOnline she said: 'I was walking to work around 7.35am in the morning and I spotted him near Victoria station and I thought "your Chris" and I went over to him and he smiled and said that he was.
'I gave him a hug and said "you did brilliant last week in the arena" and he replied saying "thank you", he was really nice.
'But I noticed his clothes didn't look in a good condition and still dirty and I asked him "do you still need money?" He said "yes please".
'I thought because of what he had done and the fact he'd put himself in danger, I went into my purse and gave him £5 and said "I'm sorry I don't have any more."
'I then had a bit of a conversation with him and he said he was still homeless...he emptied his pockets and all he had was a lighter and a rolled up cigarette.'
She added: 'How is it the GoFundMe pages have been set up, thousands have been raised but he's still on the streets?
'Even if he didn't get all the money straight away I thought at least he would be off the streets now. But he said he'd not been updated about it [the GoFundMe page].
'He was honestly such a gentleman. He's very grateful but doesn't want the whole fame thing. He just wants to be treated like a human.'
Marissa Lowe (pictured) bumped into Chris Parker, who she found was still living on the streets
In the hours since, the man who set up the page, Michael Johns, has given those concerned an update.
He wrote in response: 'I decided to just write a quick comment as there's a lot of misinformation and assumptions that is having the effect of people asking to REFUND their donations.
'I'm not going to be able to answer every question you have as some touch on Chris' personal situation which I am unable to discuss. I hope you can understand.
'I met up with Chris for the first time today to discuss the campaign and generally have a chat with the man himself.
'I hope you can all understand that it simply is not a case of coming up to Manchester with a suitcase of cash or a quick bank transfer.
'As it says in the latest update I am unable to ask for a PARTIAL release of funds. This was something that was explored last Thursday. I've seen comments above that suggest the opposite is written in the T&Cs.
'We are in contact with a number of different people and organisations who want the best for Chris and absolutely everything I'm doing right now is with regard to professional opinion and the constraints GoFundMe has handed me.
'I am unable to answer any questions regarding Chris' personal situation.'
Jessica Parker - her son Chris helped victims of the terrorist attack in Manchester
Earlier he had said: 'As you can imagine the handing over of £50,000 is not a simple issue and requires the input of accountant and solicitors as well as homeless outreach workers who know Chris personally.
'At the end of last week we enquired with GoFundMe about being able to draw out some of the money to keep Chris going in the meantime.
'GoFundMe have stated this is not possible due to their payment processor. We are meeting with Chris now to discuss how to take this forward and if there is anything we can do in lieu of the funds being transferred.'
A spokesman for GoFundMe told MailOnline: 'It typically takes a several days for the payment processor to transfer the funds to an individual.
'Rather than waiting for that process to be completed, GoFundMe has decided to wire a portion of the funds to get Chris immediate relief.
'We're in constant contact with the campaign organizer we're working to get this money to Chris in the most effective way possible.'
Chris Parker, pictured as a boy, described cradling a young girl who had lost both of her legs as he waited for paramedics to arrive
It comes after Mr Parker was reunited with his mother Jessica.
Recalling their meeting she said: 'It was hard to put into words how it was.
'He just gave me the biggest hug and said 'I'm glad you're here mum'.
'I said 'I wanted to come up and see you and make sure you are all right'. There was a lot of emotion.
'He needed to talk it through, to tell me how he felt. He got very emotional when he was talking.'
The usually bustling St Ann's Square in Manchester has become a sombre focal point for outpourings of grief
A policewoman comforted a young girl following the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena last Monday night. Her mother was later found to have died in the attack
She added: 'It was heart wrenching, absolutely heart wrenching to know that he actually still wanted his mum.
'He told me very matter-of-factly what he did and said, "Mum, I've just done what anybody else would do."
'I said, "I don't think so Chris, I think you did something really wonderful and you need to remember that".
'He's going to be alright, I know he is. He's fallen on hard times, but he has a heart of gold. I'm so proud of how brave he was trying to help people.'
He's completely overwhelmed by it all', Ms Parker said.
'He never envisaged that sort of money, ever. I just want to thank everybody for their kindness and support, and the very kind messages that people have sent me and sent Chris.'
After meeting at a hotel on Friday, the pair visited St Ann's Square where flowers have been left for victims of the atrocity.
Ms Parker is now hoping to see her son again next weekend and hopes it will lead to more frequent meetings.
She said: 'I'm doing what he wants me to do. As a mother, I want to clean him up, feed him, clothe him, but I've got to remember that I can't do that, it's not my place to do that.'
Casualties were stretchered out of the concert on after the terror attack at Manchester Arena
Speaking about the terror attack last week Mr Parker, who has slept rough in the city for about a year, said a woman in her 60s 'passed away in his arms' outside the arena.
He said: 'Everyone was piling out, all happy and everything else. As people were coming out of the glass doors I heard a bang and within a split second I saw a white flash, then smoke and then I heard screaming.
'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.
'It's the screams I can't get over and the smell...I don't like to say it but it smelled like burning flesh.'
Another rough sleeper, Stephen Jones, revealed how he pulled nails out of a little girl's face after the bomb went off at the end of the Ariana Grande concert.
Mr Jones recalled watching in horror as children covered in blood began pouring out of the arena, leaving behind 'lifeless' bodies surrounded by 'hysterical' mothers.
He said: 'I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I'd just walked away. Just because I'm homeless, it doesn't mean I haven't got a heart.'
Last week West Ham's owner David Sullivan and his son vowed to pay for Mr Jones's rent for six months to thank him for helping the victims of the Manchester suicide bombing.
Just a few hours later and with the help of social media and Manchester's Booth Centre, a day centre which helps the city's homeless, the pair managed to successfully track Mr Jones down.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4556134/Homeless-man-saved-victims-reunited-mother.html#ixzz4ikNvN0eR

Admin Tue 30 May 2017, 5:31 pm

Israeli Trauma Experts Land in Manchester to Treat Victims, Train Medical Staff
Mourners comfort each other after a memorial for the victims of the Manchester bombing on May 21, 2017. (Screenshot)
When Salman Abedi blew himself up at a concert by pop singer Ariana Grande in Manchester, England on May 22, killing 22 and severely wounding more than 100, Rabbi Dov Benyaacov-Kurtzman knew he had to act immediately.

Benyaacov-Kurtzman, a native of Glasgow, Scotland has lived most of his life in Jerusalem, but returned to Great Britain in 2016 in order to create the UK National Emergency Response, Resilience and Treatment Programme For Stress and Trauma. The network of trauma centers he was tasked with creating wasn’t yet ready to launch, but the attack forced the group to mobilize straight away, he says.

“I wouldn’t say we were ready to begin working, but once the attack occurred we obviously couldn’t wait till we were fully ready,” Benyaacov-Kurtzman told TPS. “We immediately erected a pop-up trauma center to deal with the city’s population who were in the aftermath of a terror attack, and by Friday morning we’d managed to open a mobile facility and gotten someone to donate a storefront in central Manchester to serve as ‘Ground Zero’ for our efforts.”

The professional side of the effort is coordinated on the ground by Prof. Yori Gidron of France’s Lille University, a native of Israel who has participated in international disaster and terror relief teams in Japan, Nepal, Haiti and Israel. Gidron travelled from France to England immediately following the attack in Manchester both to provide treatment and to train local mental health professionals in trauma care. In addition, several Israeli trauma specialists have joined Gidron in recent days. To date, 90 English mental health professionals have undergone training from the Israeli staff.

Gidron will be joined in Manchester by Dr. Moshe Farchi, the head of stress, trauma and resilience studies at Tel Hai College in northern Israel who has developed a unique approach to psychological trauma that is being employed by the volunteer team.

Farchi’s approach calls for restoring a sense of reality for people who have suffered a high-trauma incident as soon as possible after the incident.

“Attacks like the one in Manchester very often shatter a person’s sense of reality and leave him or her feeling helpless,” said Adam Leighton, the Israel-based chairman of Heads Up, a British NGO that is supporting the effort.

“So our basic approach is to get the person to take control of him or herself very rapidly. It can be something as simple as getting them to take a simple walk to the store by themselves. Then, once they’ve accomplished that, they can move on to doing more things. This is one of the most important elements to prevent post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from setting in,” Leighton told TPS.

Leighton said that Dr. Farchi’s approach represents a change of mindset from “traditional” mental health approaches to treating emotional trauma. Whereas traditional approaches might be calming and supportive, he said that Farchi stresses the need to keep the experience “alive” in order to enable the victim to address it while the issue is still “live.”

Farchi outlines six “C” principles for treating psychological trauma: Communication, challenge, control, commitment, continuity, all emanating from a central feature of cognitive abilities. In addition, Farchi proposes a series of basic questions designed to keep the patient “in the moment” long enough to begin effective psychological treatment. These include: What is this place? What happened? What is the time frame? What is the plan for you here? When will you return home? What would you like to do first?

“Unfortunately, Israelis have a long history of dealing with high-trauma incidents, and for that reason we believe they have developed the most effective treatments available in this area,” Benyaacov-Kurtzman said.
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/88857/israeli-trauma-experts-land-manchester-treat-victims-train-medical-staff/?

Admin Mon 29 May 2017, 10:59 am

Manchester Bomber Connected to Terror Hub
https://clarionproject.org/manchester-bomber-connected-terror-hub/
Home > Political Islam > Worldwide > Movements > Manchester Bomber Connected to Terror Hub
BY RYAN MAURO Sunday, May 28, 2017
VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=P15HTxVNmDc
FOX NEWS
The Bomber used funds of student Loans and tax payers money, the Mosque connected to Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas

Clarion Project's national security analyst, Prof. Ryan Mauro, explains how the Manchester bomber fits into a broader Global Islamist Insurgency Network and why that means the U.S. can defeat the jihadists.
Ryan Mauro is ClarionProject.org’s Shillman Fellow and national security analyst and an adjunct professor of counter-terrorism. He is frequently interviewed on top-tier television and radio. To invite Ryan to speak, please contact us.

23,000 Potential Jihadis in Britain: MI5
https://clarionproject.org/potential-jihadis-britain/
BY MEIRA SVIRSKY Sunday, May 28, 2017
New beefed-up security at a concert in Manchester
New beefed-up security at a concert in Manchester (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
In an unusual announcement, Britain’s MI5 (secret service) revealed:
23,000 potential jihadis are currently living in Britain
3,000 potential terrorists are being investigated as “subjects of interest”
500 terror investigations are currently active
Speaking to the media, a security source said, “It is difficult because becoming aware that someone is an extremist sympathizer does not make them a live and present danger.

“It is a balancing act – is the intelligence sufficient to push them up the list of priorities or should the focus be on someone else given the finite resources available?”

Sources also said the fact that Britain’s security agency publicized these numbers indicates that the agency wants the public to be aware of how difficult it is to investigate potential terror threats.

As the threat level was increased from “severe” to “critical” following the Manchester attack, security in the UK was increased, with the following measures implemented:

Armed police will patrol train in Britain.
Armed soldiers are now guarding the House of Parliament and the prime minister’s house.
Security is also guarding the Great Manchester Run, the Football Association cup final and the premiership rugby final.
The National Health Service (NHS) instructed 27 major trauma centers to be prepared in case of another attack.
Following the arrests of 11 suspects in connection with the Manchester bombing, the government reduced the threat level from “severe” back to “critical.” The deployment of soldiers under ‘Operation Temperer’ will continue until midnight on Monday to cover extra security for the national holiday weekend. After that, “a well-planned and gradual withdrawal of members of the armed forces” will take place.

Admin Sat 27 May 2017, 3:22 pm

Manchester Suicide Bombing: Salman Abedi Likely Did Not Act Alone
Image: Data:image/Gif;Base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs%3D
BY REUTERS ,
May 24, 2017 | 7:13 AM
VIDEO
Terror in Europe: Timeline of deadliest attacks in 2017
The Manchester suicide bomber who killed 22 people at a pop concert venue packed with children likely did not act alone, a minister said on Wednesday.
image: http://d.christianpost.com/full/110025/590-386/london-bombing.jpg
(Photo: REUTERS/Neil Hall)Armed police officers stand on duty outside St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Britain, May 24, 2017.
The official threat level in Britain was raised late on Tuesday for the first time in a decade to its highest level, "critical," meaning an attack could be imminent.
Interior minister Amber Rudd said up to 3,800 soldiers would be deployed on Britain's streets, taking on guard duties at places like Buckingham Palace and Downing Street to free up police to focus on patrols and investigatory work.
Police have named British-born Salman Abedi, 22, as the perpetrator of the bombing at the Manchester Arena indoor venue at the end of Monday's concert by U.S. pop singer Ariana Grande, attended by thousands of children and teenagers.
The identities of Abedi's victims were becoming known little by little. They included an eight-year-old girl, several teenage girls and a 28-year-old man.
A Polish couple who had come to collect their daughters after the concert also died, Poland's foreign minister said. The daughters were safe.
"It seems likely, possible, that he (Abedi) wasn't doing this on his own," Rudd told BBC radio. She also said Abedi had been known to security services before the bombing.
Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency response committee at her Downing Street office.
Abedi was born in Manchester in 1994 to parents of Libyan origin, according to U.S. sources citing British contacts.
Asked about reports that Abedi had recently returned from Libya, Rudd said she believed that had now been confirmed.
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said British investigators had told French authorities Abedi had probably traveled to Syria as well and that he had "proven links" to the Islamic State militant group.
image: http://d.christianpost.com/full/110026/295-197/manchester-bombing.jpg
(Photo: REUTERS/Jon Super)Flowers and messages of condolence are left for the victims of the Manchester Arena attack in central Manchester, Britain May 23, 2017.
France, which has repeatedly been hit by devastating militant attacks since 2015, extended emergency powers in the wake of the Manchester bombing.
Britain has a national election coming up on June 8 but all campaigning has been suspended since the bombing. Coverage of the attack and its aftermath has pushed out political news from the British media.
It was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated attacks on London's transport network.
The Manchester bombing also left 64 people wounded, of whom 20 were receiving critical care for highly traumatic injuries to major organs and to limbs, a health official said.
WASHINGTON REBUKED OVER LEAKS
As Collomb was speaking in France, Rudd was asked by the BBC about the fact that information about Abedi, including his name, had come out from the United States and whether she would look again at information sharing with other countries.
"Yes, quite frankly. I mean the British police have been very clear that they want to control the flow of information in order to protect operational integrity, the element of surprise, so it is irritating if it gets released from other sources and I have been very clear with our friends that should not happen again."
Asked whether the U.S. leaks had compromised the investigation, she said: "I wouldn't go that far but I can say that they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn't happen again."
The British parliament, which is usually open to tourists, said it would close to the public with immediate effect due to the increased security threat and the closure would last until the advice changed.
Attacks in cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St Petersburg, Berlin and London have shocked Europeans already anxious over security challenges from mass immigration and pockets of domestic Islamic radicalism.
Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for the Manchester attack, but there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation.
The militant group has repeatedly called for attacks on Western countries as retaliation for their involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/manchester-suicide-bombing-salman-abedi-likely-did-not-act-alone-184886/#q9B7W2oEw44rFiG3.99

Admin Sat 27 May 2017, 10:58 am

Three men charged over ‘terror plot to detonate a car bomb’ in London

MAY 27, 2017
Three men appeared in court charged over an alleged “mass murder” plot to detonate a car bomb in central London. The suspected scheme, said to have been foiled by police and MI5, was allegedly inspired by Westminster killer Khalid Masood. Police fear possible targets included Parliament, Tower Bridge, Westfield shopping centre, Heathrow Airport, the MI5 and MI6 buildings and the BBC. Gay nightclubs, the Queen’s Guards, embassies including the Russian, US and

Chinese missions, plus City banks and a Freemasons’ Lodge were also thought to be at risk. Umar Ahmed Haque, 24, who faced Westminster JPs, is alleged to have told an accomplice the UK public deserve to be annihilated. Officers believe the primary target was Westminster Bridge where Masood, 52, killed four people with a car in March before fatally knifing PC Keith Palmer inside the grounds of Parliament.
READ MORE https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3661616/three-men-charged-over-terror-plot-to-detonate-a-car-bomb-in-london/

Admin Sat 27 May 2017, 9:53 am

Manchester attack: Police make 12th and 13th arrests in bombing investigation – live
Police arrest two men, taking the total to 13
Katie Hopkins leaves LBC radio show after ‘final solution’ tweet
UK police end suspension of intelligence sharing with US
All 22 victims of Manchester Arena bombing named
Jeremy Corbyn: ‘war on terror is simply not working’

Police officers stand on duty on Dorset Avenue in Moss Side following a raid on a residential property as investigations continue into the terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
Josh Halliday
Our reporter Josh Halliday has captured this video of an interview with a neighbour of the house in Cheetham Hill that was raided last night
Aftab Aslam, 30, describes moment police blew open a neighbour's door in counter-terrorism dawn raid in Cheetham Hill
9:35 AM - 27 May 2017
Describing the scenes, Aftab Aslam said:
Police were just screaming, shouting at everyone: ‘Go inside, go inside; nobody [is] allowed to come out and nobody [is] allowed to be filming.’ So everybody was just watching from the windows.
Updated at 9.43am BST
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40m ago
09:31
Here’s some more news on the events that are – and are not – going on this weekend, thanks to PA.
Going ahead on Sunday:
Great Manchester Run. Thousands of defiant runners and spectators are expected to turn out for the 10k race. Participants should have received direct instructions from organisers by email.
Vitality Westminster Mile, London. Organisers said they are working closely with the Metropolitan police, the mayor’s office and other authorities on additional security measures for runners and spectators on the Mall.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend day two, Hull. Concert-goers should expect the same security measures as were in place on Saturday.
Not going ahead on Sunday:
FA Cup victory parades: Both Arsenal and Chelsea have said the victors will not stage street parades on Sunday to avoid placing additional pressure on the police.
Updated at 9.33am BST
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52m ago
09:18
One of Barack Obama’s top aides has said that the former US president expected more investment from David Cameron and other European leaders to rebuild Libya after the US and allies helped to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.
Ben Rhodes, a former foreign policy adviser at the White House, said that Obama’s expectation was that “there would have been a greater investment in the security force building from Europe”.
Salman Abedi, the suicide bomber who killed 22 concertgoers in Manchester on Monday, was the son of Libyan emigres who had left the country because of their opposition to Gaddafi’s government. Arrests since then by police trying to capture the suspected terror network that supported him have largely focused on Manchester’s Libyan community.
Rhodes told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday morning:
I think we’re sympathetic to the challenges of doing that in a country that is not hospitable to foreigners coming in and providing that type of capacity building.
I think, looking back, the window closed faster than people thought.
I think people thought there was going to be a longer timeline to build up institutions in Libya, and, frankly, within about a year following when Cameron and (then French president Nicolas) Sarkozy travelled to Libya, within a year essentially it was going to be impossible to put things back together.
Rhodes also said the transitional Libyan government “lost control of violence in the country”. He said
When I look back on that I think we all believe we should have done better. What began as a humanitarian intervention led to the removal of Gaddafi, and then there was just an enormous vacuum and nothing filled that vacuum except for the militias on the ground.
Updated at 9.20am BST
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1h ago
08:46
Plans for major bank holiday events in the the UK
Police have stepped up security at a number of events this weekend, PA reports. Most are expected to go ahead as planned, albeit with more police officers around. Plans to bolster security at events, including Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Hull, were first announced on Tuesday.
Going ahead:
Premiership Rugby final, Twickenham. Exeter Chiefs battle Wasps in south-west London, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30pm after a minute’s silence for the victims of Monday’s attack. England Rugby advised fans to allow extra time to access the stadium and avoid bringing bags where possible.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Hull. Music fans heading to see Katy Perry, Little Mix, Biffy Clyro and others should allow extra time to undergo two rounds of security procedures. Police will be on hand at checks at transport hubs and a second check will be carried out at the site entrances. Asst Ch Con Andy McDyer said on Tuesday: “Be prepared to be searched.”
Birmingham Pride. The parade begins at midday with a large number of police officers, specials and police staff on hand to keep the public safe, West Midlands police said. Anyone who sees something suspicious is urged to tell a police officer or member of security staff. Supt Phil Dolby said: “I appreciate that people planning to attend may feel a sense of nervousness following events earlier this week in Manchester, but I would like to offer some reassurance that a full policing operation is in place and is subject to ongoing reviews.”
Chelsea Flower Show, London. Visitors on the last day of the show are urged to “remain extra vigilant” and report any concerns to staff or security immediately. Organisers say they are continuing to work closely with the Metropolitan police in light of recent events.
FA Cup final, Wembley. The Duke of Cambridge and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, are expected to join tens of thousands of Arsenal and Chelsea fans at the north-west London stadium. The Football Association said enhanced security measures would be in place and fans are urged to arrive at least an hour before the 5.30pm kick-off.
Cancelled:
Screening of the FA Cup final at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal said they reluctantly made the decision following the raising of the threat level.
Updated at 8.50am BST
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2h ago
08:37
Our reporter Josh Halliday is at the scene in Cheetham Hill where police blew off the doors of a house before storming in and arresting two men, aged 20 and 22, on suspicion of terrorism offences
View image on Twitter
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Josh Halliday ✔ @JoshHalliday
Property in Cheetham Hill where police used controlled explosion to gain entry. Two arrests in connection with #ManchesterBombing
8:11 AM - 27 May 2017 · Manchester, England
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Updated at 8.39am BST
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2h ago
08:23
Damien Gayle
Hello, Damien Gayle taking the reins of the live blog now and for the rest of today.
Greater Manchester police this morning said they have been carrying out searches at a third address in Cheetham Hill, and another property was being searched in Moss Side.
We have reporters heading to the scenes to find out what’s going on.
Updated at 8.34am BST
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3h ago
07:21
We are going to leave the blog there for now. Thanks for reading. For all the latest news on the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack, please visit our dedicated page.
5h ago
05:40
Saturday’s front pages are dominated by extra security on the Bank Holiday and Theresa May accusing Jeremy Corbyn of making excuses for terror attacks.

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-bombing-live-updates-latest-13075807
VIDEO people queue to lay flowers
Josh Halliday
Our reporter Josh Halliday has captured this video of an interview with a neighbour of the house in Cheetham Hill that was raided last night.
Josh Halliday ✔ @JoshHalliday
Aftab Aslam, 30, describes moment police blew open a neighbour's door in counter-terrorism dawn raid in Cheetham Hill
9:35 AM - 27 May 2017
2 2 Retweets 1 1 like
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Describing the scenes, Aftab Aslam said:
Police were just screaming, shouting at everyone: ‘Go inside, go inside; nobody [is] allowed to come out and nobody [is] allowed to be filming.’ So everybody was just watching from the windows.
Updated at 9.43am BST
Facebook Twitter Google plus
40m ago
09:31
Here’s some more news on the events that are – and are not – going on this weekend, thanks to PA.
Going ahead on Sunday:
Great Manchester Run. Thousands of defiant runners and spectators are expected to turn out for the 10k race. Participants should have received direct instructions from organisers by email.
Vitality Westminster Mile, London. Organisers said they are working closely with the Metropolitan police, the mayor’s office and other authorities on additional security measures for runners and spectators on the Mall.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend day two, Hull. Concert-goers should expect the same security measures as were in place on Saturday.
Not going ahead on Sunday:
FA Cup victory parades: Both Arsenal and Chelsea have said the victors will not stage street parades on Sunday to avoid placing additional pressure on the police.
Updated at 9.33am BST
Facebook Twitter Google plus
52m ago
09:18
One of Barack Obama’s top aides has said that the former US president expected more investment from David Cameron and other European leaders to rebuild Libya after the US and allies helped to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.
Ben Rhodes, a former foreign policy adviser at the White House, said that Obama’s expectation was that “there would have been a greater investment in the security force building from Europe”.
Salman Abedi, the suicide bomber who killed 22 concertgoers in Manchester on Monday, was the son of Libyan emigres who had left the country because of their opposition to Gaddafi’s government. Arrests since then by police trying to capture the suspected terror network that supported him have largely focused on Manchester’s Libyan community.
Rhodes told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday morning:
I think we’re sympathetic to the challenges of doing that in a country that is not hospitable to foreigners coming in and providing that type of capacity building.
I think, looking back, the window closed faster than people thought.
I think people thought there was going to be a longer timeline to build up institutions in Libya, and, frankly, within about a year following when Cameron and (then French president Nicolas) Sarkozy travelled to Libya, within a year essentially it was going to be impossible to put things back together.
Rhodes also said the transitional Libyan government “lost control of violence in the country”. He said
When I look back on that I think we all believe we should have done better. What began as a humanitarian intervention led to the removal of Gaddafi, and then there was just an enormous vacuum and nothing filled that vacuum except for the militias on the ground.
Updated at 9.20am BST
Facebook Twitter Google plus
1h ago
08:46
Plans for major bank holiday events in the the UK
Police have stepped up security at a number of events this weekend, PA reports. Most are expected to go ahead as planned, albeit with more police officers around. Plans to bolster security at events, including Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Hull, were first announced on Tuesday.
Going ahead:
Premiership Rugby final, Twickenham. Exeter Chiefs battle Wasps in south-west London, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30pm after a minute’s silence for the victims of Monday’s attack. England Rugby advised fans to allow extra time to access the stadium and avoid bringing bags where possible.
Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Hull. Music fans heading to see Katy Perry, Little Mix, Biffy Clyro and others should allow extra time to undergo two rounds of security procedures. Police will be on hand at checks at transport hubs and a second check will be carried out at the site entrances. Asst Ch Con Andy McDyer said on Tuesday: “Be prepared to be searched.”
Birmingham Pride. The parade begins at midday with a large number of police officers, specials and police staff on hand to keep the public safe, West Midlands police said. Anyone who sees something suspicious is urged to tell a police officer or member of security staff. Supt Phil Dolby said: “I appreciate that people planning to attend may feel a sense of nervousness following events earlier this week in Manchester, but I would like to offer some reassurance that a full policing operation is in place and is subject to ongoing reviews.”
Chelsea Flower Show, London. Visitors on the last day of the show are urged to “remain extra vigilant” and report any concerns to staff or security immediately. Organisers say they are continuing to work closely with the Metropolitan police in light of recent events.
FA Cup final, Wembley. The Duke of Cambridge and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, are expected to join tens of thousands of Arsenal and Chelsea fans at the north-west London stadium. The Football Association said enhanced security measures would be in place and fans are urged to arrive at least an hour before the 5.30pm kick-off.
Cancelled:
Screening of the FA Cup final at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal said they reluctantly made the decision following the raising of the threat level.
Updated at 8.50am BST
2h ago
08:37
Our reporter Josh Halliday is at the scene in Cheetham Hill where police blew off the doors of a house before storming in and arresting two men, aged 20 and 22, on suspicion of terrorism offences.
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Property in Cheetham Hill where police used controlled explosion to gain entry. Two arrests in connection with #ManchesterBombing
8:11 AM - 27 May 2017 · Manchester, England
08:23
Damien Gayle
Hello, Damien Gayle taking the reins of the live blog now and for the rest of today.
Greater Manchester police this morning said they have been carrying out searches at a third address in Cheetham Hill, and another property was being searched in Moss Side.
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-bombing-live-updates-latest-13075807
Manchester bombing latest updates: More arrests as police use controlled explosion to enter Cheetham Hill property
GMP's chief inspector praises response from city, but warns force will not tolerate a rise in hate crimes
VIDEO QUEUE people waiting to lay flowers.
Police are continuing to carry out a raids following the devastating terrorist attack at Manchester Arena on Monday night.
A number of people have now been arrested in connection with Monday night's suicide bombing.
Twenty two people were killed and 120 injured after the explosion in the foyer of the venue following an Ariana Grande concert.
READ MORE
These are the victims killed in the Manchester Arena terror attack
Hundreds of well-wishers have been queuing to lay floral tributes, candles, teddy bears and messages of support in St Ann's Square and across the city to remember those killed and injured.
A fund set up by the M.E.N. to help the families of those affected has now passed the £5,000,000 mark, with celebrities around the world sharing the appeal.
Police have named Salman Abedi - a Salford University student - as the suicide bomber behind the attack, with officers carrying out raids at a house in Fallowfield and Whalley Range in the hours that followed.
Other raids have since taken place in Moss Side, Withington, Blackley, Cheetham Hill, Wigan and Nuneaton.
Eleven people are currently in custody.
The MEN has set up a fundraising page to help support the families of those killed the Manchester terror attack
Manchester Arena and Victoria Station remain sealed off, although surrounding roads are now open.
We will bring you the latest in the wake of the terrorist attack here.
What happened in the Manchester terror attack: Everything we know so far
KEY EVENTS
More arrests overnight
08:14
Plain-clothed police arrest man on bus on Oxford Road
19:43
Ariana Grande will to return to Manchester for benefit concert
19:19
'We have got our hands around some of the key players'
16:35
Mapped - timeline of what we know so far
10/17am 27/5/2017
More images of Cheetham Hill scene
Here’s how it looks at Brideoak Street at the moment:
10:11
'It's scary because it's on your doorstep'
Another neighbour called Roy said the police used ‘stealth’ before he heard a ‘kaboom’.
“They came there and put stuff round the door and before you knew it you heard this ‘kaboom’.
“My windows were open because last night was a pretty humid night, muggy and sticky, so I got the full force of the audibility of the blast.
“Police were on the street telling people to get indoors. It’s very scary because it’s on your doorstep. It’s something you don’t expect.”
10:02
'Very frightening'
Neighbour Val Jones said it was ‘very frightening’.
Val said:
“I woke up about 2.30am and heard a loud bang and a lot of shouting and banging. I looked outside and there was a convoy of cars from top to bottom. There were car doors flying open and soldiers getting out their rifles.
“The police were getting out their combat gear and rifles. All this road was blocked off from top to bottom.
“I knew it was something serious but I didn’t know it was in connection with what had happened. I thought it could have been a drugs raid.
“I thought it was a door getting kicked in at first. I didn’t realise it was an explosion until I saw the news.
“I’ve never met the people who live there. The police were here three to four hours and then started taking the cordon off.”
10:00
VIDEO : Eyewitness account of Cheetham Hill raid
More details of what happened in Brideoak Street overnight from resident Aftab Aslam.
09:45
Witness describes moment police raided property
Aftab Aslam, 30, has been telling us what happened last night.
“I was up at 2am and heard a big loud bang. It was proper loud. Everybody came out on the street.
“The police were shouting for everyone to get inside. They were shouting not to take pictures and video.
“There were about 12 or 15 police cars. All undercover. No one was allowed to come out. I had no idea what was going on.
“There was someone who came out and the police put something on his head. He was screaming or loud crying. It was just one person.”
MORE ARRESTS OVERNIGHT.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-bombing-live-updates-latest-13075807

Admin Sat 27 May 2017, 9:04 am

http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/23/pictured-the-two-homeless-heroes-who-helped-manchester-attack-victims-6657217/
NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW ITTRENDINGHOMENEWS
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Pictured: The two homeless heroes who helped Manchester attack victims
Rob WaughRob Waugh for Metro.co.ukTuesday 23 May 2017 7:50 pm
8.8k
Pictured: The two homeless heroes who helped Manchester attack victims
Two homeless men have become unlikely heroes of the Manchester attacks – with moving accounts of how they helped victims.

Thousands gather at vigils to show solidarity with Manchester terror victims
The two men, Steve Jones and Chris Parker, were in the area to sleep and beg for money.
Chris Parker, 33, was in the foyer area of the venue, where he regularly goes to beg for money, when the attack occurred – and said he saw a ‘flash of light’ before the blast.
Mr Parker spoke about a woman in her 60s who suffered fatal leg and head injuries in the bombing.
‘She passed away in my arms. said she had been with her family. I haven’t stopped crying.’

A GoFundMe page to raise money for Parker has already raised more than £8,000 – and his estranged mother has appealed for him to get in touch via social media.
Manchester's top police: 'We won't tolerate hate'
Play Video
/Duration Time 2:17
Fullscreen
Steve Jones told ITV news how he helped children who had been blasted with nails, ‘It was children with blood all over them, they were crying and screaming. We were having to pull nails out of their arms and a couple out of a little girl’s f
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/23/pictured-the-two-homeless-heroes-who-helped-manchester-attack-victims-6657217/#ixzz4hwxiuncT
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3629395/manchester-homeless-men-ariana-grande-terror-attack-suicide-bombing/
Manchester homeless men tell how they cradled dying women and pulled nails from children’s faces after Ariana Grande terror attack Chris Parker, 33, and Stephen Jones, 35, were hailed "heroes" after they rushed to help those injured in the attack
By Gemma Mullin
23rd May 2017, 3:15 pm Updated: 23rd May 2017, 5:14 pm HOMELESS people have been hailed as heroes after they rushed to help those caught up in the horrific terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.
Chris Parker, 33, cradled a dying woman and wrapped a bloodied child in merchandise T-shirts while Stephen Jones described in harrowing detail how he had to pull nails from a little girl’s face.
Homeless Chris Parker, 33, was begging inside the Manchester Arena when the bomb was detonated and rushed to help the wounded
MATTHEW POVER
13
Homeless Chris Parker, 33, was begging inside the Manchester Arena when the bomb was detonated and rushed to help the wounded
Helpers attend to people inside the Manchester Arena after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device
REUTERS
13
Chris Parker took this picture of people tending to the injured inside the Manchester Arena after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device
Stephen Jones
ITV NEWS
13
Homeless Stephen Jones, 35, described in harrowing detail how he pulled nails from a little girl’s face

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-homeless-hero-manchester-attack-10484804
'Long-lost mum' of homeless hero who rushed to help terror attack victims desperate to be reunited with him
"I am very proud of him and I think he might need me right now"
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BYZOE FORSEY
19:26, 23 MAY 2017UPDATED21:06, 23 MAY 2017
NEWS
Hero homeless man Chris Parker held one woman as she died (Photo: Go fund Me)
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A woman claiming to be the mum of a homeless man who heroically ran to help victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack has said she's desperate to be united with her son.
Chris Parker, 33, was begging in the foyer area of the music venue when the bomb exploded.
Despite being knocked to the group by the blast, he got up and sprinted towards injured music fans.
At least 22 people - including children - were killed in the horrific attack.
A further 119 people were injured as a result of the suicide bombing , which happened moments after an Ariana Grande concert.
Details of Chris' heroic actions have been widely reported and a GoFundMe page has been set up for him.

Admin Fri 26 May 2017, 3:46 pm

Hospitals across UK told to ‘prepare for further incident’ in wake of Manchester attack
MAY 26, 2017
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has issued an urgent alert to every hospital in England, including trauma centers in 27 cities, to “prepare for a further incident” during the upcoming bank holiday, British media report. With the terror threat warning in the UK having been raised to its maximum “critical” level following the terrorist attack on the
Manchester Arena concert hall on Monday, the UK’s national clinical director for trauma, Chris Moran, has released the warning calling on staff to be ready for a possible new attack in the coming days. Having praised the “tremendous response” provided by medics in Manchester to the victims of the recent bombing, the official said this was possible not only because of the medics’ excellent skills, but also due to the “preparation that has taken place” across Britain’s hospitals. “You will be aware that we have a bank holiday weekend approaching,” he emphasized.
READ MORE https://www.rt.com/uk/389761-hospitals-manchester-attack-standby/

Admin Wed 24 May 2017, 9:28 pm

CLARION Troops on the Streets as UK Ups Threat Level to Critical
Home > World > UK > Troops on the Streets as UK Ups Threat Level to Critical
BY ELLIOT FRIEDLAND Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Officer cadets parade at the British military’s Sandhurst Academy. (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
The UK has upgraded the country’s threat level to “critical,” the highest threat level, following the May 22 terror attack which killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester. The designation, decided upon by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, means the government believes another attack may be imminent.

Law-enforcement officers are investigating whether Monday’s suicide bomber acted alone and they are pursuing leads to find and arrest anyone who may have been involved or who may be planning a fresh terrorist attack.

The bomber, Salman Abedi, 22, of Libyan descent, is feared to be part of a broader network connected to Islamic State. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

British Prime Minister Theresa May ordered soldiers deployed to the streets as a means of boosting security for key sites. The soldiers are part of “Operation Temperer,” a government plan which has been in place since 2015 but which has so far never been used.

Up to 5,000 soldiers will be deployed around the country, guarding sites including Buckingham palace, embassies and parliament.
“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,” Theresa May told journalists in explaining the decision.
“You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches, helping the police to keep the public safe. In all circumstances, members of the armed forces who are deployed in this way will be under the command of police officers. Precisely how the military and armed police officers will be deployed is an operational decision for police commanders.”
On May 23 a man with an axe was arrested at a vigil in Birmingham for the victims of the terrorist attack.
In an unrelated incident, a 37-year-old man was arrested attempting to board a flight to Turkey from Stansted Airport near London. He is being held on suspicion of attempting to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State.
https://clarionproject.org/troops-streets-uk-ups-threat-level-critical/

Admin Tue 23 May 2017, 3:15 pm

Manchester Arena terror attack: Children among 22 dead & 59 injured at Ariana Grande gig
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/807967/Manchester-Arena-terror-bomb-fears-explosion
AT LEAST 22 people, including children, have been killed in a suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande pop concert at Manchester Arena on Monday evening.
By WILL KIRBY AND KATIE MANSFIELD
PUBLISHED: 08:09, Tue, May 23, 2017 | UPDATED: 09:27, Tue, May 23, 2017
VIDEO

22 people, including children, have been killed and around 59 injured - Greater Manchester Police
Officers rushed to Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion in the foyer area at 10.33pm on Monday evening
US singer Ariana Grande, who was not injured in the blast, had just finished her performance when the explosion occurred
The 23-year-old tweeted to say she was left "broken" by the news
Witnesses claim people were trampled as concertgoers tried to flee the stadium
Police believe attack was carried out by one man, who died at the scene after detonating a bomb
General Election campaigning has been suspended until further notice with Theresa May set to hold an emergency Cobra meeting today
Travel updates HERE & people worried about loved ones are being urged to call 0161 856 9400
Police forensic investigators continue to search Manchester Arena as a major investigation gets underway with officers from neighbouring forces travelling to Manchester to help
Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron pledge to stand united with Britain in the fight against terror
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that 22 people have been killed and more than 50 injured in the blast.

They have also confirmed that the blast, which happened just after 10.30pm outside the venue in a public area, is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise.

The attack left thousands of people fleeing in terror and left carnage inside the venue, with one witness claiming "bodies were everywhere".

The bombing, which is being treated as a terror attack, is the worst to hit Britain since the July 7 2005 suicide bomb attacks in central London in which 52 people were killed.

The Manchester blast came four years to the day since Lee Rigby was murdered by Islamic extremists in Woolwich.
The area around the stadium remains in lockdown as authorities continue with their investigations.

ON EDGE: 3,500 Potential Terrorists & 400 ISIS fighters Back from Syria in UK
MAY 23, 2017
The number of potential terrorists being watched in the UK at the time of the Manchester bombing has swelled to nearly 3,500 – but our security services are using powers to monitor them LESS than they did a year ago, Express.co.uk can reveal. Latest figures show the 3,000 potential terrorists monitored since 2015 has grown after the return of UK-born people who left to fight with ISIS.
About 400 ISIS-trained fighters are believed to have returned from war zones in Syria and Iraq. Despite being on red alert for more attacks on home soil like last night’s Manchester bombing, new statistics show the number of arrests, stop and searches, and examinations of suspected terrorists at ports and airports dropped in 2016 on the levels seen in 2015.
FULL REPORT http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/782647/London-terror-attack-3-500-potential-terrorists-monitored-less

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/782647/London-terror-attack-3-500-potential-terrorists-monitored-less
Terror in Manchester: 3,500 potential terrorists & 400 ISIS fighters back from Syria in UK

THE number of potential terrorists being watched in the UK at the time of the Manchester bombing has swelled to nearly 3,500 - but our security services are using powers to monitor them LESS than they did a year ago, Express.co.uk can reveal.

By JON AUSTIN
PUBLISHED: 05:59, Tue, May 23, 2017 | UPDATED: 09:38, Tue, May 23, 2017
Panicked concert-goers attempt to flee Manchester Arena

Latest figures show the 3,000 potential terrorists monitored since 2015 has grown after the return of UK-born people who left to fight with ISIS.

About 400 ISIS-trained fighters are believed to have returned from war zones in Syria and Iraq.

Despite being on red alert for more attacks on home soil like last night's Manchester bombing, new statistics show the number of arrests, stop and searches, and examinations of suspected terrorists at ports and airports dropped in 2016 on the levels seen in 2015.

This comes at the same time the number of people arrested on suspicion of plotting terror strikes on British soil has grown by eight per cent.

Manchester terror attack images after bombingGETTY
At the time of the Manchester bombing there were 3,500 terror suspects in UK
In 2016 there were 260 terror-related arrests, a drop of eight per cent on the 282 people held in 2015.

The figures were revealed in a quarterly Home Office report on the use of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, which was released in March.

The figures also show that the amount of white people being arrested on suspicion of terrorism has gone up.

Seventy (25 per cent) of the people arrested in 2015 were white, while 91 (35 per cent) of those held last year were white.
Last year 13 per cent (35) of arrests were of people suspected of plotting terror attacks on British soil, a sharp rise on the five per cent (15) of such arrests in 2015.

The report said: "Of the 260 arrests for terrorism-related offences in the year ending 31 December 2016, 96 had resulted in a charge by January 16 2017 (79 terrorism-related and 17 non-terrorism-related).

"In 68 cases, the individual had been released without charge; in a further 90 cases, the arrestee was released on bail pending further investigation."

The use of a power for officers to question people entering or leaving the country at ports, airports, international rail stations and in border areas fell dramatically by 30 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015.

In 2015, the power was used around 27,800 times, but this fell to 19,355 last year.

Under the power, people can be detained for up to nine hours, with DNA samples and fingerprints taken, without the need for any reasonable suspicion.

Swarms of emergency services at Manchester Arena and Piccadilly Station after the terror bombingSWNS
Swarms of emergency services at Manchester Arena and Piccadilly Station after the terror bombing
Manchester Arena: Harrowing scenes of 'terror attack' at Ariana Grande concert
Tue, May 23, 2017
At least 22 people have been killed and 59 injured after a suspected explosion at Manchester Arena.

PLAY SLIDESHOW
Scenes outside of Manchester Arena TWITTER/LNP
1 of 10
Reports of a suspected-explosion outside Ariana Grande's Manchester concert
Scenes outside of Manchester Arena
Emergency services at the scene
Crowds fleeing Manchester Arena
Bomb disposal robot arrives at the scene
Armed police at the scene
Crowds fleeing from Manchester Arena
Woman and young girl wrapped in foil blankets
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In the year ending 31 December 2016, a total of 19,355 persons were examined under this power in Great Britain, a fall of 30 per cent on the previous year.
Home Office report
The report said: "When necessary they may also detain and search individuals. "The aim is to determine whether that person appears to be someone who is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

"In the year ending 31 December 2016, a total of 19,355 persons were examined under this power in Great Britain, a fall of 30 per cent on the previous year.

"This has continued the decline in the use of the power in recent years."

It does not explain in the report why the number has dropped, but there has been pressure from groups like Stop Watch, which argues they infringe the human rights of Muslims and other communities.

Ariana Grande concert goers flee Manchester Arena after the bombingPA
Ariana Grande concert goers flee Manchester Arena after the bombing
Manchester Arena forensics teams after terrorSWNS
Forensics teams are at Manchester Arena today after the bombing
The number of people detained after being examined under this power fell in 2016 by 16 per cent.

There were 1,828 detained in 2015 and 1,539 last year.

The amount of stop and searches of suspected terrorists anywhere in the UK, when reasonable suspicion does exist, fell by seven per cent in 2016.

There were 483 uses of the power in 2016, a fall from the 521 in 2015.

Armed police on the streets of Manchester after the bombingPA

The report said a high number of arrests and use of stop and search in the last quarter of 2015 was the reason for the decline.

It said: "This fall is driven by a particularly large number in the October to December 2015 quarter in the previous year, rather than a particularly low number in the most recent quarters."

In November 2015 MI5 boss Andrew Parker revealed security services were monitoring more than 3,000 homegrown Islamist extremists who were suspected of supporting ISIS, Al-Qaeda or other groups and being willing to carry out attacks on the UK.

He said: "That is the highest number I can recall in my 32-year career, certainly the highest number since 9/11.

"It represents a threat which is continuing to grow, largely because of the situation in Syria and how that affects our security."

Just seven months later, in June 2016, it emerged that around 400 British Islamic State fanatics had returned to the UK after fighting with the terror group in the Middle East.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said around 850 UK-linked extremists had travelled to the region since fighting began in 2014, with just under half of those returning, and requiring monitoring.

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