BREAKING: Theresa May has cranked the UK terror threat to its maximum – from ‘Severe’ to ‘Critical’ – after the Manchester Arena bombing. Soldiers will now patrol key sites alongside police to keep the public safe.
Military on the Streets as Terror Threat Hits ‘Critical’
The move follows fears that Salman Abedi, the Manchester bomber, may not have acted alone. The Prime Minister confirmed that “Operation Temperer” is now live, deploying troops to back up armed police at vital locations across the city.
Manchester Bombing: 22 Dead, 59 Injured
The suicide attack struck as concert-goers were leaving an Ariana Grande show at the Arena. Abedi, a 22-year-old with Libyan roots raised in Manchester, detonated the bomb just after 10.30pm on Monday.
Among the victims are eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, 18-year-old Georgina Callander, and 28-year-old John Atkinson. Police remain focused on whether Abedi had any accomplices.
Historic Alert Level Only Raised Twice Before
This is only the third time the UK has raised terror alerts to ‘Critical’. The first was in 2006, stopping a plot to blow up airliners with liquid bombs. The second came in 2007 amid attacks on a London nightclub and Glasgow Airport.
Soldiers Could Guard Events Nationwide
Mrs May warned military guards may soon be a common sight at concerts and public gatherings across the country, working under police command to keep Britain safe. The capital and other cities will brace for a heightened security presence in the coming weeks.
