THIS is the Brit-born suicide bomber who killed 22 innocent people and maimed 64 others in the Manchester Arena nail bomb massacre.
Sick terrorist Salman Abedi, 22, was unmasked as Theresa May raised the UK threat level to “critical” for the first time in 10 years and said she may deploy armed soldiers on the streets because another terror attack could be “imminent”.
The Home Secretary Amber Rudd has this morning said it’s “likely” he “was not doing this on his own”.
The Sun can reveal Abedi had secret jihadi training during family trips to Syria and spooks fear he was not acting alone when he carried out the atrocity that ISIS has claimed responsibility for.
Today French interior minister Gerard Collomb has said the Manchester bomber is believed to have travelled to Syria and had “proven” links with the Islamic State terror group.
The monster – who was killed when he detonated a bomb at Ariana Grande’s gig on Monday night that killed concert-goers as young as eight – was born and grew up in Britain.
Abedi’s family originally hail from Libya and he is thought to have visited the North African country – also a haven for ISIS fighters – regularly in recent years.
Sources said there were fears Abedi may have taken advantage of the conflict to make the simple journey across the Med to Syria without alerting the British authorities.
One revealed: “His potential ties to Syria now very much forms one line of inquiry.”
Cops are also probing whether Abedi, who is believed to have been known to MI5, acted alone or as part of a larger extremist network to carry out the worst terror attack Britain has seen since the 7/7 London bombings.
And Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley admitted there were “gaps in our knowledge” about Abedi and the PM said it was possible a “wider group of individuals” could have been involved in the “cowardly” attack.
The attack came on the fourth anniversary of the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby and just two months after four were slaughtered when a Hyundai 4x4 driver mowed down people on Westminster Bridge, central London.
Eight-year-old schoolgirl Saffie Roussos was named as one of the victims along with student Georgina Callander, 26-year-old John Atkinson and brave aunt Kelly Brewster, 32, who shielded her niece from the deadly blast.
Mums Alison Howe, 44, and Lisa Lees, 43, were also killed while waiting for their kids to leave the show and teenager Olivia Campbell who sparked an emotional TV appeal have also been listed among the dead.
The latest victims confirmed dead are Angelika and Marcin Klis, a Polish couple whose daughter launched a desperate appeal to find them yesterday.
The horrific attack came as:
- The Sun has launched 'Together With Manchester' appeal and donated £100,000 to get it going
- At least 22 people died and a further 64 were injured
- Terrorist named as British-born Salman Abedi, 22, who was 'known to MI5'
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it's "likely" Abedi "was not doing this on his own"
- French interior minister said bomber is believed to have travelled to Syria and had "proven" links with Isis
- Theresa May raised the UK threat level to "critical"
- Victims included an eight-year-old girl and an aunt who shielded her niece from blast
- Homeless heroes told how they pulled nails out of kids' faces
- Cops raided two addresses and arrested Abedi's brother Ismail, 23
- The Queen praised the people of Manchester for their compassion
- Emotional vigils were held across the UK
Business management student Abedi’s identity emerged soon after armed cops dramatically stormed his home in Manchester, at around noon yesterday.
The uni dropout's older brother, computer expert Ismail, 23, was arrested in a separate raid and was being quizzed by anti-terror cops last night.
It came hours after Abedi had blown himself up in the foyer of a packed Manchester Arena, as 21,000 fans left a concert.
Abedi's device - thought to have been wrapped with nuts and bolts to send out a cloud of deadly shrapnel - detonated at 10.33pm.
The death toll currently stands at 22 - with the youngest victim aged just eight.
Of the grim casualty total, 12 children under 16 were injured and it is understood 20 people are still "critical" out of a total of 64 injured.
They are said to be suffering from "horrific injuries" including major organ damage and potential loss of limbs, Jon Rouse of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership has said.
US security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in 1994 to parents who had fled to the UK to escape the Gaddafi regime.
His dad is understood to have left the UK in 2011 to try and overthrow the Libyan leader.
The Mail Online reports when Gaddafi was killed the family put a massive flag on the roof of their house.
Neighbour Debbie Smith, 53, said: “I think they were glad he was dead.”
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said Abedi was known "up to a point" to the intelligence services.
When asked in an interview with the BBC this morning if the attacker was a "lone wolf" or not Rudd said: "It seems likely, possible, that he wasn’t doing this on his own."
They are believed to have emigrated to London before moving to south Manchester.
They are believed to have emigrated to London before moving to south Manchester.
Abedi’s family have told of their horror at finding out he was behind the massacre.
They described the fanatic as a “brilliant” footballer who loved Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid.
One male relative, who asked not to be named, told The Sun how he had seen Abedi just ten days ago looking “happy, relaxed and smiling” as he secretly plotted the attack.
The relative said: "When he was younger he liked football and was good at that stuff, he was just a normal guy, you know what I mean?
"He was actually brilliant at football to be honest, when he was a teenager though.
"He loved Madrid weirdly when he was younger."
The terrorist's parents are currently in Libya and are thought to have moved back to live there recently, the family member said.
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We launch a Together With Manchester appeal – to raise money for families of the victims of the Arena bomb.
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Abedi and his brother have been living in their parents' house which was raided yesterday.
The family source said: "I went to the house ten days ago, I saw other family members and relatives there.
"He was fine. He seemed happy, relaxed. He said, 'Hello,' or, 'Salam.' We were in the sitting room it was very normal.
"He had just normal clothes on, just normal jeans."
The family member, who would not be named for fears of repercussions, strongly condemned the attack and said: "We can't believe it.
"We can't take it in. It is terrible.
“It shows that it takes a short amount of time to change someone, sometimes."
Abedi grew up in the Whalley Range area, close to a girl's high school which hit the headlines in 2015 when 'terror twins' Zahra and Salma Halane fled to ISIS-controlled Syria.
Neighbours have told how Abedi, who is the second youngest of four children, started acting "strangely" in the weeks before the terrorist atrocity.
He was reportedly seen chanting "Islamic prayers loudly in the street" outside his home in the south of the city.
School friends have told how Abedi was a Muslim who had grown a beard in the past year.
WHAT DO THE THREAT LEVELS MEAN?
Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack.
- LOW means an attack is unlikely.
- MODERATE means an attack is possible, but not likely.
- SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is a strong possibility.
- SEVERE means an attack is highly likely.
- CRITICAL means an attack is expected imminently.
One neighbour claimed she saw Abedi chanting loudly in Arabic weeks before the terrorist attack.
Lina Ahmed, 21, said: "He was acting strangely. A couple of months ago he [Salman] was chanting the first kalma [Islamic prayer] really loudly in the street. He was chanting in Arabic.
"He was saying 'There is only one God and the prophet Mohammed is his messenger'."
Neighbour Simon Turner revealed he had seen Abedi in recent months dressed in “traditional black robes” and said he flew a green Libyan flag from his chimney.
He told The Sun: “He used to have a green Islamic flag he would fly from his chimney.
“Sometimes he’d be dressed normally, and other times he would be in full traditional black robes.”
It has been revealed that the sick terrorist started studying business and management at Salford University in 2014, but dropped out and did not finish his degree.
Dr Sam Grogan, the university's Pro-Vice Chancellor Student Experience, said: "All at the University of Salford are shocked and saddened by the events of last night. Our thoughts are with all those involved, their families and their friends.
"We have provided, and continue to provide, support to all students and staff who have been affected."
Abedi and his brother reportedly worshipped at Didsbury mosque, south Manchester, where their father was a "well-known figure".
Mosque trustee Fawaz Haffar said Abedi's dad used to perform the azan, the call for prayer before 1,000 of the faithful and his brother worked as a volunteer.
When asked whether he had ever seen the terrorist praying at the mosque, he said: "He probably did, I have never seen him, I don't know him.
"I came earlier to ask any of the employees whether they knew him, people said they don't know him. There are many mosques, he may be attending another mosque. I honestly do not know."
Salman reportedly stopped going to the mosque in 2015 as he objected to anti Isis comments, according to Mohammed Saeed, the imam of Didsbury Mosque.
He said: “Salman used to come to the mosque occasionally, he wasn’t particularly friendly towards me because he didn’t like my anti-IS sermons.
“He didn’t like what I was saying and showed me the face of hate. He came to the mosque less and less after that.”
Eyewitnesses told how bomb disposal officers were seen raiding the house before a controlled explosion took place.
Cops stormed two addresses - one in Whalley Range and one in Fallowfield - and arrested 23-year-old Ismail in Chorlton.
Neighbours have described the dramatic police operation at Abedi’s home.
One local told how a convoy of unmarked cars had swept into Abedi’s road before blowing down his door.
Mr Turner, 46, said: “At least 20 armed police jump out and yell at us to get in the house. It was terrifying, like a scene from a movie.
“They threw some canister at the door which exploded and blew the door open and they all sprinted inside.
“They must have been in there for about 20 minutes, you could hear them shouting.
“I didn’t see anyone get arrested though.”
MI5 spooks and anti-terror cops are now racing against the clock to uncover Abedi’s links to any possible terror cell.
Sources said their aim would be to establish if Abedi himself had built the deadly device – or if a bomb-making mastermind was behind the blast.
Theresa May said Britain is braced for further terrorist attacks after the atrocity.
The military will be providing armed guards for key locations across London including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and embassies, Scotland Yard said.
The Met has said they have “increased police numbers and operations across the capital with immediate affect”.
In a statement issued this morning they said: “The plans that have been in put in place reflect efforts by the MPS to protect London against the current threat from international terrorism.
“The public will see more armed officers, working alongside their neighbourhood and specialist colleagues on proactive operations and targeted patrols, both on foot and in vehicles.”
Following an emergency Cobra meeting, Mrs May said the independent body which sets the threat level has increased it from “severe” to “critical”.
She said: "This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent.
The defiant PM described the massacre as “callous and cowardly” and declared “terrorists will never win”.
“His victims were innocent children, young people and their families - our thoughts and prayers are with them all.
"I want to re-iterate what I said about the professionalism of the emergency services and the bravery of the people in Manchester.
"Through their actions, they proved that cowardice will always be defeated by bravery, that evil can be overcome by good and that our values, the liberal, pluralistic values of Britain, will always prevail over the hateful ideology of the terrorists.
“Terrorists will never win and we will prevail.”
Cowardly ISIS warlords - hiding in Syria - have claimed responsibility for the gutless attack.
ISIS said in a statement published by its Amaq News Agency (a news outlet linked to ISIS in Syria) : “With Allah's grace and support, a soldier of the Khilafah managed to place explosive devices in the midst of the gatherings of the crusaders in the British City of Manchester.
"This was in revenge of Allah’s religion, in an endeavour to terrorise the mushrikin, and in response to their transgressions against the lands of the Muslims.
DO YOU KNOW THE BOMBER?
“The explosive devices were detonated in the shameless concert arena, resulting in 30 (sic) crusaders being killed and 70 others being wounded.
"And what comes next will be more severe on the worshippers of the Cross and their allies, by Allah's permission. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of creation."
Thousands gathered last night to remember the victims of the atrocity in a series of vigils across the country.
The people of Manchester have been encouraged to "get back to normal" as the city vows to continue with its day-to-day business.
But while the city's mayor Andy Burnham said it is important to send out a message that the people will not be "beaten", he also said the city is going through "very difficult times".
He confirmed the Great City Games is set to go ahead this weekend.
But one was marred by the arrest of an axe-wielding man heard screaming and shouting at the vigil in Birmingham’s Victoria Square.
Police confirmed the man, 39, was detained and taken away in a riot van amid heightened tensions across the UK.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE MANCHESTER ARENA ATTACK
Today we launch a Together With Manchester appeal – to raise money for families of the victims of the Arena bomb.
News UK, publisher of The Sun, has made a corporate donation of £100,000 to the appeal.
Here's how you can show your support....
TEXT: Text TWMC50 and amount to 70070 – eg TWMC50 £5
(you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10)
(you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10)
Earlier, witnesses told of seeing shards of metal tearing into concert-goers in the foyer area of the world-famous concert venue – leaving dozens lying in pools of blood.
The horrific blast could he heard echoing through the packed arena as families tried to make their way home as the concert came to an end just after 10.40pm.
Some reports claimed the terrorist caught a £3.80 tram to the arena to carry out the suicide bombing.
But other US security sources, citing British intelligence officials, suggested he may have caught a train.
Two former top anti-terror cops have said the atrocity was “well planned” and “sophisticated”.
Manchester's Victoria Station, which backs onto the arena, was evacuated following the blast, and all train services were suspended for Tuesday.
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#Manchester Shocking. Horrendous. Love and light to all affected. Sickened by the world we live in, at times. Cowardly.
'BROKEN' ARIANA CALLS OFF TOUR
Ariana Grande has posted a heartbreaking statement saying she is "broken" following the terror attack.
The 23-year-old pop star, who was confirmed to be safe following the massacre, posted the emotional message on her Twitter account.
She said: "Broken from the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.”
The singer is believed to have called off her world tour, having cancelled her gig in London on Thursday and put her entire European tour on hold, according to TMZ.
Were you at Manchester Arena on Monday evening? Call 0207 782 4368 or email tips@the-sun.co.uk
Courtney Spencer, a 17-year-old student who was at the concert with a pal, told The Sun: “It happened just in front of us at the top of the stairs. We didn’t know what had happened.
"It could have been a gun or a bang or an explosion.
“We just grabbed each other and got away. One lass was laying in her mother’s arms. I’m not sure if she has collapsed in shock or was injured.”
Abby Mullen said she was also leaving the venue at the time of the blast and refuted earlier claims it had been caused by a speaker or balloon, which had circulated on social media after the explosion.
She wrote on Facebook: "As we where leaving a bomb or explosion went off centimetres in front of me.
"Peoples skin/blood&faeces where everywhere including in my hair & on my bag. I'm still finding bits of god knows what in my hair. I am fine & back in my hotel I hope everyone involved and in front of me is okay."
Chris Parker, 33, was walking through the station towards the box office when the explosion went off.
He said he saw at least six people seriously injured on the floor and told The Sun: “I was walking through and one huge bang went off.
“There was nuts and bolts flying everywhere, and also human flesh. It was just one bang and a white flash. I treated a woman called Pauline. I’ve got blood on my hands. It was like a war zone inside where the box office is.
“There looked to be at least six people potentially fatally wounded. I saw one woman’s leg off. It is mayhem.”
In the aftermath of the explosion youngsters struggled to get home with the city's kindhearted residents offering places to stay and taxi drivers giving free trips.
US President Donald Trump has offered his condolences to the victims who lost their lives and their families.
He said: "So many young beautiful and innocent people enjoying and living their lives, murdered... by evil losers in life."
