Election campaign resumes after Manchester attack

Britain's government came under criticism for police budget cuts as campaigning resumes on Friday and police scramble to bust a Libya-linked jihadist network thought to be behind the Manchester terror attack, reports AFP.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was the "responsibility" of governments to minimise the risk of terror by giving police the funding they need after cuts made while Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May served as interior minister. "Austerity has to stop at the accident and emergency ward and the police station door," Corbyn said.
May and Corbyn had suspended campaigning after Monday's suicide bombing at a Manchester pop concert, which killed 22 people, including many teenagers, and wounded dozens more.
Eight suspects are currently in detention on UK soil in connection with the blast, for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility, while police in Libya have detained the father and brother of 22-year-old suicide bomber Salman Abedi.
Police said the eight men ranged in age from 18 to 38, including a 30-year-old arrested in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of Friday.
Washington's top diplomat Rex Tillerson is due to visit London later on Friday in an expression of solidarity, after Britain reacted furiously to leaks of sensitive details about the investigation to US media.
US President Donald Trump threatened to prosecute those responsible for the "deeply troubling" security breach, which has strained the close relationship between Washington and London.
At a summit of NATO allies in Brussels on Thursday, May confronted Trump over the issue, saying shared intelligence "should be kept secure".
Monday's bombing at a concert by teen pop idol Ariana Grande was the latest in a series of IS-claimed attacks in Europe that have coincided with an offensive on the jihadist group in Syria and Iraq by US, British and other Western forces.Britain's terror threat assessment has been hiked to "critical", the highest level, meaning an attack is considered imminent.
Troops have also been sent to guard sensitive sites, an unusual sight in mainland Britain, while armed police are now patrolling the country's trains for the first time.
The issue of security, which was not widely discussed in the election campaign before the attack, is now expected to feature highly.A YouGov poll published in Friday's edition of The Times put the Conservatives on 43 percent compared to Labour on 38 percent, far better for Labour than the double-digit margin that had previously separated it from the ruling party.

 

Election campaign resumes after Manchester attack

Britains government came under criticism for police budget cuts as campaigning resumes on Friday and police scramble to bust a Libya-linked jihadist network thought to be behind the Manchester terror attack, reports AFP. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was the responsibility of governments to minimise the risk of terror by giving police the funding they need after cuts made while Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May served as interior minister. Austerity has to stop at the accident and emergency ward and the police station door, Corbyn said. May and Corbyn had suspended campaigning after Mondays suicide bombing at a Manchester pop concert, which killed 22 people, including many teenagers, and wounded dozens more. Eight suspects are currently in detention on UK soil in connection with the blast, for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility, while police in Libya have detained the father and brother of 22-year-old suicide bomber Salman Abedi. Police said the eight men ranged in age from 18 to 38, including a 30-year-old arrested in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of Friday. Washingtons top diplomat Rex Tillerson is due to visit London later on Friday in an expression of solidarity, after Britain reacted furiously to leaks of sensitive details about the investigation to US media. US President Donald Trump threatened to prosecute those responsible for the deeply troubling security breach, which has strained the close relationship between Washington and London. At a summit of NATO allies in Brussels on Thursday, May confronted Trump over the issue, saying shared intelligence should be kept secure. Mondays bombing at a concert by teen pop idol Ariana Grande was the latest in a series of IS-claimed attacks in Europe that have coincided with an offensive on the jihadist group in Syria and Iraq by US, British and other Western forces.Britains terror threat assessment has been hiked to critical, the highest level, meaning an attack is considered imminent. Troops have also been sent to guard sensitive sites, an unusual sight in mainland Britain, while armed police are now patrolling the countrys trains for the first time. The issue of security, which was not widely discussed in the election campaign before the attack, is now expected to feature highly.A YouGov poll published in Fridays edition of The Times put the Conservatives on 43 percent compared to Labour on 38 percent, far better for Labour than the double-digit margin that had previously separated it from the ruling party.