Tenth suspect arrested as ‘significant’ progress in Manchester attack investigation

Nicole Morley

The scene in Nuneaton as police with Taser and firearms drawn arrest a man (Picture: SWNS)

A tenth person has been arrested in connection with the Manchester bombing.
Counter-terror police investigating the Manchester Arena bombing have carried out fresh raids, searching addresses in both Manchester and Merseyside.

Officers detained one man was arrested in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of Friday morning, while detectives searched a property in St Helens.
Eight men remain in custody in connection with Monday’s atrocity, which killed 22 innocents outside an Ariana Grande concert.
Two of those arrested – a man and a woman – have been rel;eased from police custody without charge.
Police and security agencies continue to work at incredible pace amid fears of further attacks on British soil.
NHS England warned health organisations to ‘ensure care is in place should it be needed’ as Britain remained on high alert in the run-up to the bank holiday weekend.

A police officer stand outside a property in Moss Side, following overnight raids in Manchester, Britain May 25, 2017 (Picture: Reuters)

Greater Manchester Police told Metro.co.uk: ‘This morning (Friday 26 May 2017) we have arrested a man in the Moss Side area.
‘The arrest is connected to Monday’s attack on the Manchester Arena, but this is a fast moving investigation and we are keeping an open mind at this stage.
‘As it stands ten people in total have been arrested in connection with the investigation, of which a man and a woman have since been released without charge.
‘Eight men remain in custody for questioning.’
Downing Street announced the Government’s emergency Cobra committee will meet in Whitehall today to discuss the latest developments, chaired by the Home Secretary.
During the investigation, officers carried out searches at properties in Manchester, Wigan and Nuneaton and bomb disposal unit returned to the Wigan address on Thursday night so experts could examine ‘potentially suspicious items’.
British investigative efforts remained focused on smashing the potential terror ring which may have assisted Abedi, despite the belief of Libyan authorities that he acted alone.

British authorities identified Salman Abedi as the bomber who was responsible for Monday’s explosion in Manchester which killed more than 20 people. (Picture: AP)

A police officer stands on duty outside a residential property on Lindum Street in Moss Side, Manchester, on May 25, 2017 (Picture: Getty)

Culled from Metro UK

BBC's John Humphrys sparks outrage after branding UKIP manifesto a 'suicide mission' - just seconds after Manchester bombing reference

Ironically the veteran broadcaster had just accused UKIP leader Paul Nuttall of being insensitive for not waiting another day before releasing the party's manifesto

ByVicki Newman

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BBC radio star sparks outrage with UKIP 'suicide mission' jibe  

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BBC radio presenter John Humphrys has been branded "deeply insensitive" after referring to UKIP's manifesto as a "suicide mission" - in virtually the same breath as the horrific Manchester terror attack.
Listeners of the Today programme took to Twitter in their droves demanding an apology from the veteran broadcaster - who asked the party leader Paul Nuttall why he hadn't waited another 24 hours before releasing his manifesto - out of respect for the Manchester terror victims.
Then in virtually the same breath Humphrys described the UKIP party as being on a "suicide mission."
His remarks come after at least 22 people were confirmed dead and a further 59 suffered life-threatening injuries after suicide bomber Salem Abedi targeted US pop star Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester on Monday evening.

22 people died after a suicide bombing at Ariana's concert (Photo: Getty)

People say John should issue an apology (Photo: BBC)

Today Humphrys was talking about the election campaign getting back on the road after a pause due to the attack.
He says: "The election campaign is back on the road tomorrow after a pause for the Manchester atrocity, but UKIP is jumping the gun, it's launching its manifesto today and its leader Paul Nuttall is with me. Good morning, couldn't have waited another day?"
Nuttall responds: "Well we took the decision that the best way to show these people that we will not be beaten, that they will not win, is to get back into the saddle, to launch the manifesto, because the one thing they hate more than anything is our democracy, and we believe that the democratic process should continue."

CLACTON-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - MAY 20: UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall speaks to media in front of supporters holding placards as he campaigns on May 20, 2017 in Clacton-on-Sea, England. Clacton MP Douglas Carswell had previously won UKIP's only seat in Parliament but has since left the party. All political parties continue to campaign across Britain ahead of the general election on June 8. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) (Photo: Jack Taylor)

And Humphrys then says: "Bit of a suicide mission for you isn't it, this campaign?"
Offended listeners took to Twitter to say he should apologise for using the term.
One listener seethed: "Do you think you guys could think about language? Asking paul nuttall if his manifesto launch was a suicide mission? Really?"
Another asked: "Did John Humphrys really have to use the phrase "suicide mission" when speaking to Paul Nuttal?"
"Did my ears deceive or did Humphrys insensitively ask a political leader if role as leader was a " suicide mission " ?If so = insensitive !," said another.
And another listener said: "Open mouthed when Humphrys chose "you're on a suicide mission" as appropriate words to irrelevant leader of dead parrot party..."
"I would suggest Humphrys apologises for that disgraceful "suicide mission" jibe at Paul Nuttall before end of programme," said one person.
The Mirror's associate editor, Kevin Maguire, added: "Unfortunate phrasing by @BBCr4today's John Humphrys asking Ukip's leader about Manchester then saying "Bit of a suicide mission for you.."

Mirror

Customs intercepts 440 pump action rifles, others at Lagos port By Sulaimon Salau

The intercepted 440 pump action rifles displayed by the Nigeria Customs Service at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos…yesterday.

• Agency denies handling cargo The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a cache of arms and ammunition imported through the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos.The 440 pieces of assorted pump action rifles, which originated from Turkey were concealed inside a 40-footer container with numbers PONU210024/1 22G1 carrying POP powder used in designing house ceiling. It was the second seizure of arms of such magnitude this year. The customs had in January this year seized 661 pieces of pump action rifles, which were found in 49 boxes. The secret importation of arms and ammunition is deepening the insecurity in the country.
Displaying the guns at the Tin Can Island Command of the Customs yesterday, the Coordinator of Zone A of Customs, Assistant Comptroller-General Monday Abueh said the container was intercepted on Monday night based on intelligence obtained by the command.
He added that one suspect (name withheld) had been apprehended in connection with the seizure and the consignment transferred to the customs enforcement unit where other security agencies were invited to inspect it.


“These are pump action rifles of various designs. Based on intelligence report, the Tin Can Island Customs under Controller Bashir Yussuf, was able to identify the container and intercept it. We discovered that they used POP powder to conceal the arms in order to beat the customs checks. “We have one defendant, but we don’t intend to detain him for long because of security reason. As of the consignee, we are still keeping the identity under wraps because investigations are still ongoing. We have about 440 pieces coming from Turkey,” Abueh said.Yusuf revealed that apart from the 440 pieces of pump action magnum brand, other accessories of the guns were found in the container.
He gave the breakdown of the seizure as 100 pieces of Black Tornado Single Barrel Rifles; 75 pieces of Silver Magnum Single Barrel Rifles; 50 pieces of Alter Pump Action Rifles; 215 pieces of Black Single Barrel Rifles; 164 pieces of Rifle Nozzle; 103 pieces of Arms Grips;110 pieces of trigger; 113 pieces of Arm Guard; 107 pieces of Bridge Block;122 pieces of Allen Keys; 117 pieces of Assemble Butt and 516 pieces of 50kg bags of PoP cement.
Yusuf said: “We have other accessories in this container, several parts dismantled but definitely to be reassembled. Investigations will go deeper to know where the factory for arms assemblage is located in Nigeria.
“Generally, anytime we have interceptions like this, it requires a lot of intelligence and profiling of importers. The 21st century calls for that, you don’t have to wait for things to start happening before you start working.
“POP is a very safe item to conceal weapons because it is not injurious to anyone. It was an attempt to distract the customs attention, but whatever anyone may use, it will attract our attention.”


Meanwhile, Sifax Group has denied reports that the arms were handled by its sister company, Ports & Cargo Terminal.Corporate Affairs Manager of Sifax Group, Muyiwa Akande, said: “The attention of our management has been drawn to a false report being circulated by some online news media to the effect that a container load of arms was intercepted at a subsidiary of our company, Ports & Cargo Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos. “The news report is totally false and misleading. We enjoin members of the press to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in order to avoid misinforming the unsuspecting members of the public,” he said.
The President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Increase Uche told The Guardian that such unpatriotic acts should be discouraged. He urged security officers to do a thorough investigation and prosecute the culprits.

Guardian

Donald Trump warns that Iran must never be allowed nuclear weapons

The President said the risk was of a nuclear Iran was so great other Arab nations are finding themselves siding with the Jewish state.

ByChristopher Bucktin

Donald Trump kicked off his Israel tour with a warning to Iran over its nuclear ambitions (Photo: REUTERS)

Donald Trump began his visit to Israel today by warning of the threat posed by Iran if it acquires nuclear weapons.
The President said the risk was so great other Arab nations are finding themselves siding with the Jewish state.
Iran has spent years building a nuclear program with the goal of producing a weapon capable of reaching Israel.
President Trump stood beside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jersualem today as he said: “Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.”
He said Iran must also ‘cease its deadly funding, training and equipping of terrorists and militias’.
Following his arrival today President Trump indicated he hoped the common goal of preventing Tehran from building a nuclear capability would help unite Israel and Palestine.

Shortly after his speech, Mr Trump made a historic visit to the Western Wall, becoming the first sitting US president to visit one of Judaism’s holiest sites.
The White House refused for him to be accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the site’s location is in dispute.
The US has not officially recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital because government officials have wanted its status determined by Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Mr Trump, wearing a skullcap, placed his right hand on the wall and swayed slightly back and forth with his eyes closed.
He was flanked by his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner , who is Jewish, and Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a white folded up note, and placed it into a crack in the wall.

Trump is the first sitting president to visit Israel's Western Wall (Photo: AFP)

The tradition sees slips of paper containing written prayers to God placed in the wall.
Over a million notes are placed in the wall each year.
They are collected twice a year and buried on the Mount of Olives.
Meanwhile, first lady Melania Trump was seen standing in front of the small portion of the wall devoted to women.
The President flew into Israel from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, where he gave a speech to Arab and Muslim leaders at a summit.
Mr Trump will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
He has called an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement ‘the ultimate deal’ but has been vague about how it should happen, saying he prefers to leave it to both sides to decide between them in direct talks.

Trump is to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders (Photo: AFP)

The two-day visit to Israel forms part of Trump’s first foreign trip as US president.
Despite Trump’s Middle East visit, the controversy surrounding the investigation into Russia meddling in last year’s election remains the main focus of US attention.
Today it emerged former national security adviser Michael Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment rights and not comply with a Senate Intelligence Committee subpoena.
He had previously offered to testify before the Senate and House Intelligence committees in exchange for immunity, but neither committee accepted the offer.
Flynn was fired from his post as national security adviser in February for misleading Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Russian officials reportedly bragged during the 2016 campaign that they could use Flynn to influence Trump in the White House.

Culled from Mirror