British police arrest another man in Manchester attack probe

British police have detained another man in connection with the suicide attack in Manchester, taking the total number of arrests to 10 as investigators hunt for another explosive device that was assembled by the bomber.

British police arrested a man on Friday in connection with the suicide attack in Manchester as investigators focussed on tracing a second device believed to have been assembled by the bomber Salman Abedi.

Police officers on duty outside a barber shop on Princess Road in Moss Side, Manchester, on May 26, 2017, following an early morning raid as their investigations continue into the May 22 terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Britain is hunting for a Libya-linked jihadi network thought to be behind the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people.(AFP)

Greater Manchester Police tweeted that the man was taken into custody in the suburb of Moss Side. Following the arrest, police conducted a search at a property in the same area.

“As it stands, 10 people in total have been arrested in connection with the investigation, of which a man and a woman have since been released without charge. Eight men remain in custody for questioning,” the police tweet said.

The suicide bomber killed at least 22 people when he detonated his explosives outside Manchester Arena, where pop singer Ariana Grande was performing. More than 100 people were injured and 64 are still in hospital. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

Investigators are now focussing on the terrorist network they believe the 22-year-old Manchester-born suicide bomber was part of. They are also hunting for a second explosive device assembled by Abedi that may now be with another member of the network.

In the Libyan capital Tripoli, Abedi’s younger brother, 20-year-old Hashem, and their father, Ramadan, are being held by special forces linked to the interior ministry.

According to several reports in the British media, Abedi was known to UK security agencies and members of the public, including people of Libyan-origin, had contacted authorities at least five times over his activities and remarks.

Britain’s terror threat level continues to be “critical”, meaning authorities believe another attack could be imminent, and additional soldiers and armed police officers have been deployed at key sites in London and other cities.