Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 24 May 2017
Warning of “imminent” attack, Britain raises threat level

MANCHESTER, England faces emerging from the
(AP) — As officials hunted concert.
for accomplices of a sui- Among those confirmed
cide bomber and Britain’s killed was Georgina Cal-
prime minister warned an- lander, whose death was
other attack could be “im- reported by her former
minent,” thousands of peo- school, which posted a
ple poured into the streets photo of her in her school
of Manchester in a defiant uniform on its website and
vigil Tuesday for victims of described her as a “lovely”
a blast at a pop concert — and “very popular” young
the latest apparent target woman. Also killed was
of Islamic extremists seek- 8-year-old Saffie Roussos,
ing to rattle life in the West. who a teacher called “sim-
The attack left at least 22 ply a beautiful little girl in
dead, including an 8-year- every aspect of the word”
old girl, shattering the rev- who was warm, kind, “and
elry at a show by Ameri- unassuming, with a cre-
can singer Ariana Grande, ative flair.” The little girl’s
where strains of electric mother and sister were
pop and the sways of in- among the 59 wounded,
nocent young fans quickly which included at least 12
gave way to an explo- children under the age of
sion, a flood of screams British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the media outside 10 Downing Street, London, Tues- 16. Grande, who was not
and a stampede of pan- day May 23, 2017, the day after an apparent suicide bomber attacked an Ariana Grande concert injured in the blast, tweet-
icked concert-goers, many as it ended Monday night, killing over a dozen of people among a panicked crowd of young ed: “broken. from the bot-
clutching pink balloons concertgoers. tom of my heart, i am so so
and wearing the kitten-ear Associated Press sorry. i don’t have words.”
headbands popularized the bomber as 22-year-old 46, who lives nearby. Later, vigil for the victims. Lord The bombing took place
by Grande. Salman Abedi, who author- forensic officers in white Mayor Eddy Newman and after Grande closed
Touching on that discon- ities said died in the attack. coveralls were seen going the city’s police chief were the show with “Danger-
nect, British Prime Minister Police raided two sites in in and out of the property. among the speakers in ous Woman” and left the
Theresa May said: “We the northern English city, Details on Abedi were slow front of City Hall in Albert stage and the audience
struggle to comprehend setting off a controlled ex- to trickle out. He was de- Square, where a banner streamed toward the
the warped and twisted plosion in one, and arrest- scribed by neighbors as a with a website for a Muslim city’s main train station. It
mind that sees a room ing a 23-year-old man in a tall, thin young man who group said “Love for all, Ha- scattered bolts and other
packed with young chil- third location. often wore traditional Is- tred for None.” metal scraps, apparently
dren not as a scene to May said Abedi was born lamic dress, but few said May called raising the intended to maximize the
cherish but as an opportu- and raised in Britain and a they knew him well. country’s terror threat bloodshed. People tum-
nity for carnage.” European security official Alan Kinsey, 52, who lives level and deploying sol- bled over guardrails and
May said Britain’s ter- said he was of Libyan de- across the street, said his diers to patrol key sites a one another clawing to-
ror threat level had been scent. The official spoke on neighbor would often get “proportionate and sen- ward an escape.
raised to critical — mean- condition of anonymity be- picked up by another sible response” to the sui- “There was this massive
ing another attack may be cause he was not autho- young man in a Toyota cide bombing. There are bang. And then everyone
imminent. The status means rized to comment on ongo- and often returned late at two major sports events in just went really quiet. And
armed soldiers could be ing investigations. night. “I thought he worked London on Saturday, with that’s when the screaming
deployed instead of police At least 20 heavily armed, in a takeaway or some- Wembley Stadium host- started,” said 25-year-old
at public events including helmeted police surround- thing” because of his late ing soccer’s FA Cup final, Ryan Molloy. “As we came
sports matches. The threat ed a modest red brick hours, Kinsey said. which Prince William is due outside to Victoria Station,
level had been at the sec- house listed as Abedi’s ad- Police also searched an to attend, and Twickenham there were just people all
ond-highest rung of “se- dress in a mixed Manches- apartment in a nearby hosting rugby’s Premiership over the floor covered in
vere” for several years. ter suburb at midday on area that British media final. Monday’s bombing blood.” The attack sparked
The Islamic State group Tuesday and blasted down reported belonged to made Manchester Arena, a nightlong search for
claimed responsibility for the door. Abedi’s brother, Ismail. one of the largest indoor loved-ones — parents for
the blood bath Monday, “It was so quick. These cars Late Tuesday, thousands of concert venues in Europe, the children they had ac-
though a top American just pulled up and all these people, some holding up the latest apparent target companied or had been
intelligence official said police with guns, dogs, signs proclaiming “I Love of Islamic extremists striking waiting to pick up, and
the assertion could not be jumped out of the car and MCR” — an abbreviation at the heart of Western cul- friends for each other after
verified. Manchester Police said to us: ‘Get in the house for Manchester — held a ture, an ideology baffling groups were scattered by
Chief Ian Hopkins identified now,’” said Simon Turner, moment of silence at a to the panicked young the blast. q