President Donald Trump is right — the Islamic terrorists behind the deadly attack in Manchester are “evil losers.”
But they’re still dangerous, and security experts warn the mastermind of the bloody attack that left scores dead and wounded is still on the loose.
Sponsored: How to protect you and your family in crisis
British security forces raided an apartment building Wednesday in central Manchester as they investigated “a network” of people allegedly behind the city’s concert bombing. Hundreds of soldiers were sent to secure key sites across the country, including Buckingham Palace and the British Parliament at Westminster.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the bomber, Salman Abedi, “likely” did not act alone when he killed 22 people and wounded scores at an Ariana Grande concert Monday night in Manchester. She said he had been known to security forces “up to a point.”
Abedi, a 22-year-old born to Libyan refugees who grew up around Manchester, died in the attack.
(free) Your personalized “survival plan” [sponsored]
In Libya, authorities arrested the father and a younger brother of Abedi.
The anti-terror force that took the brother, 18-year-old Hashim, into custody said the teenager had confessed that both he and his brother were a part of the Islamic State group and that Hashim Abedi had been aware of the details of the attack.
Another man taken into custody Tuesday in Manchester was identified by Abedi’s father as another son, 23-year-old Ismail.
Exposed: Shocking government program secretly testing on seniors [sponsored]
British police, meanwhile, arrested four additional suspects on Wednesday and were assessing a package carried by one of the men, detained in Wigan, a town west of Manchester.
Authorities were raiding properties thought to be connected to Abedi.
“I think it’s very clear this is a network we are investigating,” said Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of the Manchester Police, adding that an off-duty police officer was among those killed in concert attack.
Sponsored: [Shocking] Video exposes bizarre 2017 prophecy
Many at the concert were young girls and teens enthralled by Grande’s pop power — and those who died included an 8-year-old girl.
Officials are examining Abedi’s trips to Libya and possibly Syria as they piece together his allegiances and try to foil any new potential threats. The government said nearly 1,000 soldiers were deployed Wednesday in high-profile sites in London and elsewhere, replacing police, who can work on counter-terrorism duties.
Britain raised its threat level from terrorism to “critical” late Tuesday amid concerns that Abedi may have accomplices who are planning another deadly attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this article