RELATED TO A KILLER
THIS is the moment the brother of the Manchester suicide bomber was arrested by heavily armed cops after the horrific attack which claimed the lives of 22 people.
Salman Abedi's 23-year-old brother, Ismail Abedi, was seen handcuffed and being led to a police van after masked officers swooped on him outside Morrisons on Wilbraham Road in Chorlton, south Manchester, yesterday.
18
18
18
18
The dramatic arrest came hours after 22-year-old Salman Abedi detonated a nail bomb at Manchester Arena during a packed Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
The shocking attack killed 22 people, including children, and maimed another 64.
Witness to the arrest of the terrorist's brother, shopper Nick Yates, 27, said: "There was a black Mercedes van parked up on the side of the road with six to eight police officers who were in normal clothes.
"They had face masks on and they had a black hats on.
"They were all stood around by the wall to the car park. I walked around so I could see what was going on and I could see the guy they had arrested."
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
He added: "They had a guy in handcuffs. He was sat on the floor against the wall and he looked like he was very chilled. He was sitting with his hands behind his back."
Another witness who was shopping in the area said they saw the man "pushed to the ground" before being taken from the scene in an unmarked car.
Karawan Faraj, 48, told how he saw four cop cars stop a suspect next, with the printing shop owner saying: "Four black unmarked police cars pulled up next to a phone booth and plainclothes officers with guns got out and held him.
"The guy was wearing black jeans, a black jacket and a green hoodie and was carrying a rucksack.
"I don't think he shouted or spoke or anything.
"They put him on the floor and handcuffed him. They kept him for 10 to 15 minutes."
18
18
One witness shared a photograph of the arrest on Twitter, saying: "Black Merc full of non-uniform police in face masks just arrested someone outside Morrisons in #Chorlton".
Photographs show officers leading a man away from the scene, with the suspect in handcuffs.
Police confirmed they had arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester yesterday, saying the arrest was linked to the targeted attack on crowds of concert-goers last night.
It has since emerged the man arrested is the older brother of the attacker - a former business student at Salford University.
The brothers grew up in the Whalley Range area of Manchester, having been born in Britain.
It has been reported friends and neighbours said Salman Abedi had been a football-mad teenager before things appeared to change in 2011, when his father left his job and is said to have gone to fight in Libya.
Police vowed yesterday to investigate the devastating attack, conducting two warrants in Manchester - one in Whalley Range and another in Fallowfield.
Bomb squads swooped on a home in Fallowfield, performing a controlled detonation at the site.
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....
ONLINE:
TEXT: Text TWMC50 and amount to 70070 – eg TWMC50 £5
(you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10)
18
18
A witness, who works for TMX, told The Sun Online: "There were quite a lot of police there, I would say between 20 and 30.
"They cordoned off the avenue and told everyone to stay in the house."
A landlord from the Q2 Management company, which owns the properties in Fallowfield which have been raided, said: "My daughter-in-law lives here and she rang me to say that police are here.
"All the people are living here are families. I can’t believe that. I did not know them personally but have a good number coming from outside the UK, like students, but we don’t have any people living on their own.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"It is not good news. We have students from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Libya and then families from Manchester. They are two-bed flats. They are from every race."
Brits are on high alert after at least 22 were slaughtered by a suicide bomber at a packed Manchester Arena concert on Monday night in the worst terror attack to hit the UK since 7/7.
Thousands of adults, teenagers and children screamed and fled in panic as a terrorist detonated a huge bomb – thought to be packed with nails and bolts – as Ariana Grande’s concert ended.
18
18
Greater Manchester Police had been contacted for comment to clarify the latest arrest.
Arndale shopping centre was yesterday morning evacuated, with cops arresting a man over a false alarm.
Shoppers and staff were seen streaming out of the building but authorities later said the arrest was not believed to be connected to last night's attacks. Some people were running, while others were in tears.
Cities throughout the world stood proudly in solidarity with the UK last night by lighting up iconic buildings in the red, white and blue of the British flag, including the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Following the attack Theresa May will chair another COBRA meeting this morning after raising the terror threat level to critical.
Topics