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Terror alert level in UK raised to critical

LONDON, May 23 (KUNA) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday her government decided to raise the terror alert level from severe to critical following the deadly bomb attack in Manchester last night.
"That means that a terrorist attack remains highly likely," she said in a statement at Downing Street after chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee COBR. "But the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which sets the threat level on the basis of the intelligence available to them, will continue to assess this throughout today and in the days ahead," she said.
On the COBR meeting, the prime minister said: "We discussed the details of - and the response to - the appalling events in Manchester last night." "It is now beyond doubt that the people of Manchester, and of this country, have fallen victim to a callous terrorist attack - an attack that targeted some of the youngest people in our society with cold calculation.
"This was among the worst terrorist incidents we have ever experienced in the United Kingdom. And although it is not the first time Manchester has suffered in this way, it is the worst attack the city has experienced, and the worst ever to hit the north of England -- "The police and security services believe that the attack was carried out by one man, but they now need to know whether he was acting alone or as part of a wider group. It will take some time to establish these facts, and the investigation will continue. "The police and security services will be given all the resources they need to complete that task --. "Later today, I will travel to Manchester to meet the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and members of the emergency services who have come to Manchester's aid in its moment of need," she went on.
"And - as I announced last night - the general election campaign has been suspended. I will chair another meeting of COBR later today.
"At terrible moments like these it is customary for leaders, politicians and others to condemn the perpetrators and declare that the terrorists will not win," she reminded. In in addition to the attacker, 22 people have died and 59 people have been injured in the attack.
Earlier today, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins identified the attacker as Salman Abedi, 22.
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