Bombing Suspect named as Salman Abedi, US officials say

Crime reporter(wp/es):

The suspect behind the Manchester bomb attack has been identified by British authorities, US officials say.

The alleged bomber has been named as Salman Abedi in the United States, the Press Association have reported.

A blast just after 10.30pm on Monday shook the Manchester Arena as music fans, many of whom were young children, left an Ariana Grande concert at the 21,000 capacity venue.

Armed officers raided suspected bomber’s address in the city where the attack took place ordering residents indoors as they carried out a controlled explosion.

The Fallowfield property, where Abedi was registered as living, became the centre of the investigation into the atrocity outrage as detectives hunted those thought to be behind the blast.

Greater Manchester Police said a controlled explosion was carried out in Elsmore Road at around lunchtime on Tuesday.

It came as a 23-year-old man was also arrested by plain clothes police officers in south Manchester over the deadly bombing . 

As armed officers carried out the swoop, equipped with guns and body armour, those who live there described the "sizeable bang" they heard.

Some 22 people were killed and at least 59 injured as the explosion rocked the arena.

Among the dead are eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, 18-year-old Georgina Calder and 26-year-old John Atkinson.

Families continued to search frantically for those still missing on Tuesday, many of whom were teenagers.

Chris Upton, headteacher at Tarleton Community Primary School, where the youngest victim was a pupil, said in a statement: “Saffie was simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word. 

“She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. 

“Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair.”

Georgina was described by friends as “kind and loving”.

Her friend Shelby Wharton, 17, told the Standard: “We were all praying for her to be found safely. Then we were told she had passed away.

“She was always very open, would talk to everyone. She was so nice. It does not feel real. I just pray for her family.”

Theresa May has said earlier on Tuesday that police knew the identity of the suicide bomber who deliberately chose a place where he could cause “maximum carnage” when he detonated a bomb at a pop concert in Manchester.

The Prime Minister said that police and security services were working to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a group. 

Mrs May was speaking outside Downing Street after chairing an emergency Cobra meeting in the wake of the attack.

She said it was “beyond doubt” that the people of Manchester and the UK had fallen victim to a “callous terrorist attack”.

But she added that the "cowardice of the attacker was met by the bravery of the emergency services and the people of Manchester".