U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May announced Tuesday that armed military personnel will patrol the streets in the wake of the Manchester terrorist attack that left 22 dead.
“It is now concluded on the basis of today’s investigations that the threat level should be increased for the time being from severe to critical,” May said. “This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent.”
Deadly Blast at Manchester Arena (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
British authorities announced Tuesday the identity of the suicide bomber behind Monday’s attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Salman Abedi, 22, was reportedly the son of Libyan refugees and killed 22 and injured 119 people when he blew himself up outside Manchester Arena.
May said the new threat assessment marks the start of Operation Temperer, in which as many as 5,000 armed military personnel will work alongside police officers. France has had military forces patrolling its streets since the 2015 Bataclan attack that left over 100 dead.