The attack claimed by the Islamic State (EI) group, which killed 22 people Monday night and 59 wounded at the end of a huge concert hall in northwestern Manchester, was "more elaborate than some of the previous attacks And it seems likely - possible - that he did not act alone, "Interior Minister Amber Rudd told the BBC.
She confirmed that Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old British student of Libyan origin, who died in the bombing, was known "to some extent" by the intelligence services.
He is "probably" passed by Syria, said French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, describing a man who "all of a sudden, after a trip to Libya and then probably in Syria, Radicalizes and decides to commit this attack ".
The evening before, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the state of terrorist alert had been raised from the "serious" level to the "critical" level, meaning a risk of imminent bombing.
"We can not ignore the possibility of a larger group being linked to the Manchester bombing," she said, also announcing reinforcements from the army to support the police.
Soldiers were preparing to deploy on surveillance missions too sensitive sites in the cities on Wednesday and could also patrol stations or airports, concerts, and sporting events.
"This is a temporary arrangement to deal with an exceptional event," said Amber Rudd.
Youngest victim
The attack, committed Monday night after a concert of American pop singer Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena, was claimed the next day by the EI.
"One of the soldiers of the caliphate has placed bombs in the crowd," the EI said in a statement, threatening to commit further attacks.
According to several British media, Abedi was born in Manchester of Libyan parents having fled the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. They sought refuge first in London, then in the residential area of Fallowfield, south of Manchester, where the suspect resided.
A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in another residential suburb south of Manchester, in connection with the police bombing. Searches were conducted, particularly at the suspect's home in a suburban neighborhood of modest red-brick houses. Few knew this student "discreet" and "reserved".
Saffire Rose Roussos, eight years old, came with her family to the concert of her favorite American star, is the youngest of identified victims. The most popular British newspaper, the Sun, published on Wednesday a picture of the girl with a malicious smile, wise fringe framing good cheeks, and that of the assailant, with the legends "PURE" (pure) and " EVIL "(evil).
A Polish couple also died as they came to pick up their daughters at the end of the concert. The children are "safe", said the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs
'Holes in the back'
The assailant had "deliberately chosen the place and time to cause as many victims, including many young people," Theresa May noted a few hours after the attack.
The death toll may worsen, with some of the 59 injured hospitalized - including 12 under 16, according to a medical source - in a serious condition.
The story of Stephen Jones, a homeless person near the room, captivated the social networks: he said he rescued dazed, blood-stained children and removed "nails" from his arms and even from the face of a small girl.
Chris Marker, accustomed to the sleeve next to the concert hall, also recalled comforting a woman who died in her arms. "There were nuts and bolts all over the ground. Some people had holes in their backs," he said.
The attacks have multiplied in recent months in Europe - 86 died in July in Nice, twelve in Berlin in December, five in London in March, five in April in Stockholm - while the EI suffered heavy military casualties in Iraq And Syria.
The Manchester bombing, two months to the day after the death toll in Parliament in London, has been the deadliest in the UK since July 2005 when four suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured more than 700 London transport.
The campaign for the June 8 parliamentary elections was suspended Tuesday in tribute to the victims.
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