Manchester attack: Hunt for possible bomb maker as troops deployed

 On Wednesday lunchtime the first of more than 900 soldiers were deployed on the streets.The heightened security response comes after Britain’s worst terror attack since the 7/7 bombings.

Ms Rudd told Sky News the 22-year-old suicide bomber, who was born in Manchester and was of Libyan descent, was known “up to a point” to the intelligence services.

She confirmed earlier reports that Abedi had recently returned from Libya.

France’s interior minister has said both British and French intelligence services had information that the university dropout had also travelled to Syria and had “proven” links with Islamic State.

Three more people have also been arrested by police and an armed raid is currently under way in Manchester city centre.

The terror threat level has been raised from “severe” to “critical” in the wake of the atrocity, meaning an attack is expected imminently.

In response, the military will be providing armed troops for “key locations” as part of efforts to support the police in their security operations.

Soldiers are replacing armed police at sites including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster as part of Operation Temperer. Sky  News