Another man arrested in Manchester bombing inquiry

MANCHESTER, England — British police said a 44-year-old man has been arrested in Manchester in connection with the suicide bombing at an arena in the city that killed 22 people.

Police said a “large part” of the network behind Manchester’s suicide bomb attack had been arrested, while the government came under fire for cutting security budgets as election campaigning resumed.

Greater Manchester Police said the man was detained Friday night in Rusholme, an inner city area of Manchester, “on suspicion of offenses contrary to the terrorism act.”

A police statement didn’t provide any details about why the man was arrested, but noted that the department’s investigation of Monday’s bombing after an Ariana Grande concert was “fast-moving.”

Nine suspects are currently in detention on UK soil in connection with the blast, for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. Police in Libya have detained the father and brother of 22-year-old bomber Salman Abedi.

Mark Rowley, head of Britain’s counter-terrorism police, said police had got hold of “a large part of the network” linked to the atrocity in which seven children aged under 18 were among the 22 dead.

“We are very happy we’ve got our hands around some of the key players that we are concerned about but there’s still a little bit more to do,” he said.

The United States’ top diplomat Rex Tillerson also visited London on Friday in an expression of solidarity after Britain reacted furiously to leaks of sensitive details about the investigation emanating from Washington.

“We take full responsibility for that and obviously regret that that happened,” the secretary of state told reporters.

Britain briefly suspended intelligence-sharing with the United States on Thursday over the leaks, but Tillerson said the “special relationship” between the two countries would “withstand this particular unfortunate event.”

US President Donald Trump has threatened to prosecute those responsible for the “deeply troubling” security breach.

Meanwhile, the police chief in Manchester said there has been an increase in reported hate crimes since the suicide bombing at a pop concert in the city.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Ian Hopkins said there was no place for discrimination and hatred in the city and urged people to report any incidents.

Hopkins said he has reached out to faith leaders to try to calm the situation.

He also said there has been a lot of progress in the investigation, but much work remains to be done. Hopkins said 12 locations were still being searched.

As the investigation in Manchester continued, American singer Ariana Grande said she would return to the city for a benefit concert to raise money for attack victims and their families.

The attack took place only minutes after Grande’s concert at the Manchester Arena ended on Monday night.

The singer tweeted a statement that said “I’ll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise money for the victims and their families.”

She said details were still being finalized and she would “have details to share … as soon as everything is confirmed.”

Grande also said “my heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester attack and their loved ones.”