Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences from Jerusalem to the families of the people who were brutally murdered, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who were injured. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack, and reiterated that terrorism is a global threat that must be confronted in a coordinated manner by all “enlightened countries,” to defeat this dangerous phenomenon everywhere.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb attack, which claimed the lives of 22 people and injured some 59 others, many of them children under the age of 16. British police identified the suicide bomber as 22 years-old Salman Abedi, a British national that was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan origin.
An intelligence official told TV7 that the suspect “visited Syria some time ago,” where he joined the ranks of the Islamic State. Nevertheless, British police declined to give further details about the terrorist, while stressing that their main objective is to investigate whether Abedi was acting alone, or working as part of a wider network.
“Our priority, along with the Police Counter Terrorism Network and our security partners, is to continue to establish whether he was acting alone or working as part of a wider network,” said Ian Hopkins, Police Chief of Greater Manchester.
The Greater Manchester police chief further revealed that counter-terrorism units raided two sites in the northern English city, setting off a controlled explosion in one, and arrested a 23-year-old man in a third location, who is suspected of connection with the deadly attack.