Salman Abedi’s, Manchester Bomber’s Father and Brothers Arrested
On Monday, Police officers arrested four more men in connection with the bombing at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. As we all watch this story unfold, it’s truly appalling to learn that so many people were living right next to the “losers” who committed this heinous act and no one reported their suspicions! NPR reporter, Frank Langfitt reported: “In some of my conversations that I’ve had with people who are following this very closely, the feeling is that they were aware of the bomber, but they didn’t think that he had the ability to pull off something like this, something of such sophistication and something so effective and deadly.”
Overall, there has been 5 arrest including an arrest that was announced Tuesday. According to the police, three men were taken into custody earlier on Wednesday after warrants were executed in South Manchester. This is the same area of the city where the suicide bomber suspect Salman Abedi is believed to have lived. Abedi, reportedly born in the U.K. to Libyan parents is believed to have traveled to Libya recently according to police authorities.
As of Wednesday morning, all of the fatalities in the bombing were mentioned by police to have been identified and their families contacted. In Monday’s horrific attack, 22 people died and nearly 60 were sent to hospitals in the surrounding areas after the explosion struck.
Some of the most recent names given out of those who were killed include 8-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, Angelika and Marcin Klis who were identified in the age range of teenagers.
Authorities in Manchester have identified the bombing attack as the work of a terrorist cell according to Fox News. Most of the parties involved in the cell have been reported to be part of the suspected bomber’s family. Salman Abedi’s father and two brothers have been arrested in Lybia. It was reported that the bomber's mother had warned authorities that her son was dangerous and that he supported bombings.
Abedi’s family is reported (New York Time) to have become concerned about his radicalization and seized his British passport. They later returned it when he said that he “wanted to return to the holy Saudi city of Mecca”, but instead he flew back to the Manchester area.
Story Update May 25, 2017
As of Thursday a total of eight men and one woman have been captured and arrested by UK authorities since Monday night’s deadly bombing. The total arrested also includes Abedi’s older brother Ismail. The woman who was arrested has since been released.
Hashem, Abedi’s younger brother, was detained by Special Forces of the interior ministry in the Libyan capital Tripoli, as was their father Ramadan as well. It was reported to BBC News by a Muslim community worker, who did not wish to be identified, that members of the public had called the police anti-terrorism hotline warning them about Abedi’s extreme and violent views. The calls are thought to have been made “five years ago”, the unidentified Muslim community worker added.