UK raises terror threat to 'critical'

The terror threat level in the UK has been raised from “severe” to “critical”, Prime Minister Theresa May said late yesterday.

The announcement came a day after a deadly suicide bomb attack targeted a concert venue in Manchester where American pop star Ariana Grande was performing on Monday night.

It has now concluded, on the basis of today’s investigations, that the threat level should be increased for the time being from severe to critical. This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely, but that a further attack may be imminent

May said.

Twenty-three-year-old Salman Ramadan Abedi was identified as the suicide bomber who killed 22 victims and injured 59 others in the explosion in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena at the end of the concert that was attended by thousands of children and teens.

Read: UK: 22 dead, 59 injured at Manchester concert blast

In a video message following the announcement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “London stands in solidarity with Manchester. Those who seek to harm divide us through barbaric acts of terrorism will never succeed. We will never be cowed by terrorism.”

The armed forces will secure key areas instead of police, under Operation Temperer, May said, and thousands of military personnel are expected to take part in security operations across the country.

The UK’s most senior anti-terror officer urged calm as authorities investigate the attack. “At this stage it is still not possible to be certain if there was a wider group involved in the attack,” assistant police commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement.