British Prime Minister Theresa May has raised the national terror threat level from severe to critical, amid continuing investigations into the Manchester Arena blast.
While the severe level indicates an attack is “highly likely,” the critical level is reserved for times when “an attack is expected imminently.”
In a public statement, May said “it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack.”
PM Theresa May: UK terror threat level raised from severe to critical, which means further attack may be imminent https://t.co/I7YngSds2C pic.twitter.com/lcmoVQFUaI
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 23, 2017
Greater Manchester Police and national law enforcement authorities are working to determine if the man suspected of carrying out the bombing, 22-year-old Salman Abedi, was working alone or as part of a wider organisation.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the blast, which killed 22 people leaving an Ariana Grande concert and injured many more.
Source: BBC Breaking News.
Photo: Dave Thompson / Getty.