Live Downing Street Statement Briefings

into the industry. They don't really want to go through that again, so

they are very keen to be redeployed in other areas of the workforce.

I have just chaired a meeting of the Government emergency committee,

Cobra, where we discussed the details of and the response to the

appalling events in Manchester last night our thoughts and prayers are

with the victims and with the families and friends of all those

affected. It is now beyond doubt that the people of Manchester and of

this country have fallen victim to a callous terrorist attack, an attack

that targeted some of the youngest people in our society with cold

calculation. This was among the worst terrorist incidents we have

ever experienced in the United Kingdom, and although it is not the

first time Manchester has suffered in this way, it is a worse attack

this city has experienced and the worst ever to head the north of

England. The police and security services are working at speed to

establish the complete picture, but I wanted to tell you what I can at

this stage. At 1033 last night, the police were called to report an

explosion at Manchester Arena, in Manchester city centre, near

Victoria train station. We now know that a single terrorist detonated

his improvised explosive device near one of the exits of the venue,

deliberately choosing the time and place to cause maximum carnage and

to kill and injure indiscriminately. The explosion coincided with the

inclusion of a pop concert which was attended by many young families and

groups of children. All I saw terrorism are cowardly attacks on

innocent people, but this attack stands out for its appalling,

sickening cowardice. Deliberately tagging and Saint, defence the

children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most

memorable nights of their lives. As things stand, I can tell you that in

addition to the attacker, 22 people have died and 59 people had been

injured. Those who write and had I been treated in a different

hospitals across Greater Manchester. Many are being treated for

life-threatening conditions. And we know that among those killed and

injured by many children and young people. We struggle to comprehend

the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young

children not as I seem to cherish, but as an opportunity for carnage,

but we can continue to resolve to thwart such attacks in the future,

to take on and defeat the ideology that often feels as violence, and if

there are tonnes out to be those responsible for that attack, to seek

them out and bring them to justice. The police and security services

believe that the attack was carried out by one man, but they now need to

know why he was acting alone was part of a wider group. It will take

some time to establish these facts, and the investigation will continue.

The police and security services will be given all the resources they

need to complete that task. The police and security services believe

they know the identity of the perpetrator, but at this stage of

the investigations we cannot confirm his name. Their police and emergency

services have, as always, acted with great courage and on behalf of the

country I want to express gratitude to them. They acted in accordance

with the plans you have in place, and the exercises they conducted

test those plans, and they performed with the utmost professionalism. 400

police officers were involved in the operation through the night, and

many paramedics, doctors and nurses have worked valiantly amateur Matic

and terrible scenes to save lives and care for the wounded.

Significant resources have been deployed to the police investigation

and continue to be visible patrols around Manchester, which include the

deployment of armed officers. For people who live and work in

Manchester, there remains a large cauldron in place and I Manchester

Arena Victoria Station, which will be in place for some time. The

station is closed and will remain closed well a detailed forensic

search is underway. We know that many friends and relatives of people

caught up in the attack are still trying to find out what has happened

to their children, brothers and sisters, parents and loved ones,

salt, please, think of those people who are experiencing unimaginable

worry, and if you have any information at all relating to the

attack, please contact Greater Manchester Police. The threat level

remains that Syria. That means that a terrorist attack means highly

likely. -- remains at saviour. We will continue SS this thread today

and and the days ahead. Later today, I will travel to Manchester to meet

the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins, the

mayor of greater amount to, Andy Burnham, and members of the

emergency services who came to Manchester's aid in the moment of

need. As I announced last night, the general election campaign has been

suspended. I will cheer another meeting of Cobra later today. A

terrible moments like this, it is cast before leaders, politicians and

others to condemn the perpetrators and to declare that the terrorists

will not win. But the fact that we have been you before and the fact

that we need to say this again does not make it any less true. For as

often as we experience but the worst of humanity in Manchester last

night, we also saw the best. The cowardice of the attacker met the

bravery of the emergency services and the people of Manchester. The

attempt to divide is met countless acts of kindness that brought people

closer together, and in the days ahead, those must be the things we

remember. The images we hold in our mind should not be those of

senseless slaughter, but of the ordinary men and women who bid

concerns about their own safety to one side and rushed to help. The men

and women of the emergency services, who tirelessly to bring comfort to

help anti-serum lives. Of the messages of solidarity and hope, of

all those who open their homes to the victims. They are the images

that embody the spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain. S Bennett

that two years of conflict and terrorism has never been broken and

will never be broken. There will be difficult days ahead. We offer our

thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of those affected. We

offer our full support to the authorities, the emergency and the

security services as a go about their work, and we all, every single

one of us, stand with the people of Manchester at this terrible time.

And today, letters remember those those who died and let us celebrate

those who helped, safe in the knowledge that the terrorists will

never won, and our values, our country, and our way of life will

always prevail.