More Arrests Made In Connection With 'Fast-Moving' Manchester Concert Attack Investigation
LONDON (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Manchester say two more arrests have been made in connection with the investigation into the deadly attack at an Ariana Grande concert as British authorities threaten to not share any more information with the U.S. after leaks to the media.
Law enforcement officials carried out raids Thursday morning as they continue to search for others who may have helped suspected suicide bomber Salman Abedi plan the attack.
Manchester police said Thursday's arrests bring the total number of men in custody to eight. They said a woman who was arrested Wednesday has since been released without charges.
"This continues to be a fast-moving investigation and there has been a significant amount of activity taking place," Chief Ian Hopkins said.
Also in custody is Abedi's father, who was detained in Libya, and two of Abedi's brothers, one in Libya and another in the U.K.
Abedi's father claims his son had no terrorist connections, but images taken from security footage are believed to show the 22-year-old at a shopping center three days before the attack where he may have bought a blue backpack he's seen wearing to later carry the bomb, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
But British authorities are angry that photos showing remnants of the bomb made their way to the New York Times. The photos show pieces of blue fabric found at the crime scene, along with a powerful battery and the detonator used to trigger the explosion.
"Last night the family liaison officers shared with them the fact that intelligence had been leaked and published in the New York Times," Hopkins said. "It is absolutely understandable that this has caused distress for families that are already suffering terribly with their loss."
Hopkins would not comment further on the reports.
The New York Times defended publishing the photos, saying in a statement that "the images and information presented were neither graphic nor disrespectful of victims'' adding its coverage "has been both comprehensive and responsible.''
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said she will stress to President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Brussels Thursday "that intelligence that is shared between law enforcement agencies must remain secure."
In a written statement, Trump called the leaks "deeply troubling" and said he will ask the Justice Department to "launch a complete review of this matter.''
"If appropriate, the culprit should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,'' he said.
Meanwhile, the families of the 22 victims who were killed in the attack are starting to make funeral arrangements as dozens of injured remain hospitalized, more than 20 of them in critical condition.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth paid a visit to Manchester Children's Hospital to talk with some of the young victims. One hospitalized teenager suffered a leg injury in the blast.
"We tied like jumpers around them, the two main wounds in my leg, and then we ran outside and a lot of the paramedics outside and just strangers were helping us," she said.
In Manchester and across the entire nation, a moment of silence was held for the victims.
