MANCHESTER // British police have released CCTV footage of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi on the night of the attack as thousands defied the terror threat to take part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday.
Security was tight as 40,000 runners pounded the northwestern English city's streets in the annual half marathon (21.1 kilometres), a day after prime minister Theresa May lowered the terror threat level, which was raised to the highest possible level following Monday's carnage.
Investigators gave details of Abedi's last hours as they released photographs from security cameras showing the black-clad suicide bomber wearing jeans and trainers, a black bodywarmer and baseball cap, the straps of his backpack visible on his shoulders.
The 22-year-old was of Libyan origin but born in Manchester.
Police said one of the last places he went to was a "city centre flat and from there he left to make his way to the Manchester Arena" where the attack took place.
"The flat is highly relevant as a location which we believe may be the final assembly place for the device," police added.
Two unarmed police officers remained on guard outside the entrance to Granby House, believed to contain the flat in question.
"It is surprising because these people are just under your nose and you don't know it," said Harpreet Lota, a Manchester resident walking past the building.
In their latest operations, police detained two men, aged 20 and 22, in a raid in north Manchester early on Saturday.
Along with the 11 suspects already in UK custody, police in Libya have detained Abedi's father and younger brother.
A third of those killed in Monday's bombing were children, while another 116 people were injured.
The attack, which has been claimed by ISIL, targeted young fans at the end of a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande.
British counter-terror chief Mark Rowley said on Friday that police had captured "a large part of the network" linked to the bombing.
Explaining the decision to reduce the terror threat level from critical to severe, Mrs May said troops would also be withdrawn from the streets, another measure adopted after the bombing.
"We should be clear about what this means: A threat level of severe means an attack is highly likely, the country should remain vigilant," she said.
Operation Temperer, which involved the deployment of troops on patrol alongside police, will be wound down on Monday night, at the end of the UK's bank holiday weekend.
"From midnight on Monday, there will be a well-planned and gradual withdrawal of members of the armed forces, who will return to normal duties," she said.
There was a highly-visible police presence as runners gathered on the start line for the Manchester run on Sunday morning.
Competitors fell silent as the clock struck 9am, when the race was scheduled to start. This was followed by sustained applause as the Oasis song Don't Look Back In Anger played over the tannoy, sparking a sing-a-long.
"After everything that's happened in Manchester, to get everyone to come together, stand united, don't let them win, that's why I'm doing it," said runner Ian McLellan, 45.
Mrs May has seen her party's polling lead over the main opposition Labour Party dwindle as campaigning restarted ahead of a June 8 general election, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accusing her of overseeing a cut in police staff while she was interior minister.
Between 2009-2016, the number of police officers fell by almost 20,000, or around 14 per cent, according to the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank.
Mrs May argues, however, that the government has increased funding for security and intelligence agencies.
Authorities are currently handling 500 terror-related investigations into 3,000 individuals, with another 20,000 people on the radar posing a "residual risk".
Mrs May attempted to hit back late on Saturday, announcing the new "Commission for Countering Extremism", saying that "enough is enough - we need to be stronger and more resolute in standing up to these people".
The commission will have a legal responsibility to identify extremism and will advise the government about what policies and laws to enact in order to defeat extremists.
* Agence France-Presse
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