MANCHESTER, UK — New information suggests that the suicide bomber behind the mass slaughter in Manchester on Monday night had ties to an Islamic terror cell in the city.
According to an investigation by British television channel Sky News, Salman Abedi grew up in south Manchester with several other jihadis — many of whom went to fight for Islamic State.
Abedi was the suicide bomber who killed 22 people when he blew himself up at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on Monday night. Dozens more were wounded.
Among the victims were young adults, teens and children.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Abedi is thought to have known ISIS recruiter Raphael Hostey. Both men had worshipped at the Didsbury mosque.
Hostey reportedly radicalized and recruited hundreds of young British Muslims to travel to the Middle East and fight for the Islamic State. The 24-year-old was reportedly killed in a drone strike in 2016.
The British government says it had known about Abedi “up to a point,” reports the Manchester Evening News, citing British Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
The French government says Abedi had proven ties to ISIS and both they and that the UK were aware that the 22-year-old had traveled to Syria in the past.
If true, British security services will be facing tough questions as to how Abedi evaded them.
