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Manchester attack: UK terror threat level raised to critical

Thousands attended a vigil in Manchester earlie

The UK terror threat level has been raised to its highest level of "critical", meaning further attacks may be imminent, Theresa May has said.

The move came after investigators were unable to rule out whether Manchester bombing suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, the prime minister said.

Military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites.

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber attacked Manchester Arena on Monday evening.

'Sensible response'

The prime minister said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public.

Military personnel may also be seen at other events over the coming weeks, such as concerts, Mrs May said, working under the command of police officers.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the number of UK troops deployed will be in the hundreds not around the 5,000 figure being reported.

The prime minister said she did not want the public to feel "unduly alarmed" but said it was a "proportionate and sensible response

Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos and Georgina Callander are among the dead

John Atkinson, 28, was named as one of the victims

The highest threat level, which is decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - a group of experts from the police, government departments and agencies - has only been reached twice before.

• Manchester attack: Latest updates
• What we know so far
• Theresa May's speech in full
• Who was the suspect Salman Abedi?

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who is the national counter-terrorism policing lead, said the investigation was "fast-moving and making good progress".

"However, a critical line of inquiry is whether the dead terrorist was acting alone or part of a group," he said.

"We still have critical lines of inquiry they're chasing down which has led to a level of uncertainty."

The first time the threat level was raised to critical was in 2006 during a major operation to stop a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.

The following year, security chiefs raised it once more as they hunted for the men who had tried to bomb a London nightclub, before going on to attack Glasgow Airport.

Penshaw Monument in Sunderland is lit up in red, blue and white to pay tribute to the victims

Former Sanford University student Sal man Abide - understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent - is thought to have blown himself up in the arena's foyer shortly after 22:30 BAT on Monday.

Fans were beginning to leave a concert by US singer Adriana Grande.

Three of his victims have been named - Satisfied Rose Sonorous, eight, Georgina Cal lander - thought to be 18 - and John Atkinson, 28.

So-called Islamic State has said - via IS channels on the messaging app Telegram - it was behind the Manchester attack, but this has not been verified.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40023488