Manchester terror attack police investigating '˜network' over concert bombing

Police have confirmed they are investigating a 'network' in connection with the Manchester bombing as it emerged an off-duty female officer was killed in the atrocity.
People look at flowers outside the Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester. PIC: PAPeople look at flowers outside the Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester. PIC: PA
People look at flowers outside the Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester. PIC: PA

As a huge inquiry into the attack continued, the father of perpetrator Salman Abedi claimed his son was innocent, saying: “We don’t believe in killing innocents. This is not us.”

In other developments on Wednesday detectives made a further three arrests in connection with the investigation, taking the number of people in custody to four.

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Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more seriously injured when Abedi, 22, detonated a device as fans left Manchester Arena, where US star Ariana Grande was performing on Monday night.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the level of activity in the probe is “intense” and continuing “at pace”.

Asked if officers are looking for the person who made the bomb, he said: “I think it’s very clear that this is a network that we are investigating and as I’ve said, it continues at pace, this extensive investigation is going on and activity taking place across Greater Manchester as we speak.”

Mr Hopkins confirmed that one of the victims of the attack was a serving police officer but provided no further details.

The BBC reported that the policewoman’s husband is critically ill and her two children were injured.

Sources said the family are from Cheshire.