'Another attack imminent' as UK terror threat raised to critical after Manchester bombing

The UK terror threat level has been raised to the highest possible rating following the Manchester Arena attack.

Theresa May said the terror threat level would be increased to "critical", meaning an attack was expected imminently.

The Prime Minister said it was possible a "wider group of individuals" could have been involved in the attack rather than just suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

And in a sign of the increased threat the military will be deployed to support armed police officers, Mrs May said in a live statement from Downing Street.

Manchester Arena explosion aftermath - In pictures

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Monday night's attack at a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande left 22 people dead, including an eight-year-old girl, and left another 59 injured.

Speaking at Number 10, Mrs May said: "The work undertaken throughout the day has revealed that it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack.

Manchester: 22 were killed in the attack
PA

"This morning I said that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, the independent organisation responsible for setting the threat level on the basis of the intelligence available, was keeping the threat level under constant review.

"It has now concluded, on the basis of today's investigations, that the threat level should be increased for the time being from severe to critical."

She said Operation Temperer - allowing military personnel to take to the streets - was now in force.

"This means that armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces, which will allow the police to significantly increase the number of armed officers on patrol in key locations," she added.

"You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events such as concerts and sports matches, helping the police to keep the public safe."

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