Finance: 8 arrested in Manchester attack as a 'significant' connection emerges between the bomber and known ISIS recruiter

More victims named as a 'significant' connection is made between Salman Abedi and ISIS recruiter Raphael Hostey.

• Police have confirmed they are investigating a "network" of suspects. They had arrested 8 people in total.
• 17 victims of the suicide bombing at Manchester Arena on Monday have been named
• Sky News reports that there was a "significant" target="_blank" connection between Salman Abedi and ISIS recruiter Raphael Hostey.
• BBC reports that the UK is now going to withhold sensitive info from the US as authorities fear the leaks are endangering lives.
• Abedi's older brother was arrested in Manchester in connection with the attack, while his younger brother was arrested for allegedly planning another attack in Libya, where his father was also detained.
• Abedi was born in the UK to parents who fled Libya and turned to radical Islam in recent years. He was known to British spies.
• The New York Times published photos alleging to show the explosive device taken at the crime scene.
• Campaigning in the general election was set to resume on Thursday.
• Armed troops took over regular police guard duties in some city locations as police deal with the heightened terror alert.

LONDON — Greater Manchester Police arrested two more men this morning, in relation to the bombing of an Ariana Grande concert earlier this week, bringing the total number of those in custody to eight.

The police statement reads:

"This morning (Thursday 25 May 2017) we have been carrying out searches at an address in the Withington area and a man has been arrested.

"These searches are connected to Monday’s attack on the Manchester Arena, but this is a fast-moving investigation and we are keeping an open mind at this stage.

"Another man has also been arrested in the Manchester area this morning in connection with the investigation, bringing the total number of men in custody to eight.

"A woman who was arrested in Blackley on Wednesday evening has since been released without charge."

Salman Abedi killed 22 and injured at least 64 when he detonated an improvised bomb in the foyer of the arena, in central Manchester, where the pop star Ariana Grande was performing. He died in the explosion. The 22-year-old was radicalised during trips to Syria and was known to British intelligence services, officials said.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said on Wednesday afternoon. "I think it's very clear that it's a network that we are dealing with."

The further two arrests come just a day after Abedi's brother, 23-year-old Ismail Abedi, was arrested in Chorlton, in south Manchester, in connection with the attack. His younger brother, Hashem Abedi was arrested by Libya's counterterrorism unit for allegedly "planning to stage an attack" in Tripoli, Libya, where his father Ramadan Abedi was also detained, according to the Washington Post.

Earlier this week, Ramadan Abedi was telling the press that when he spoke to his 22-year old son five days before the attack, he sounded "normal."

He said: "We don't believe in killing innocents. This is not us." He said that his son had visited Libya a month-and-a-half ago and was planning to visit Saudi Arabia. Here was Ramadan Abedi before he was detained:

Late Wednesday, police also surrounded a large block of flats in Blackley, and arrested a woman in the raid. For a brief period residents were prevented from entering or leaving their homes and a small detonation was heard — probably from the police entering the apartment.

Meanwhile, a Sky News report, citing counter-terrorism sources, that Salman Abedi had a " target="_blank"significant connection" to known ISIS recruiter Raphael Hostey, pictured here:

According to Sky News, Hostey "sponsored hundreds of terror recruits."

Meanwhile, the UK are condemning US officials for leaking sensitive information and photos related to the attack. The latest leaks came in the form of pictures.

The New York Times then published police pictures from the crime scene later in the day. The British government suppressed its anger for most of the day at leaks about the investigation that appear to be coming from US officials. But The Guardian reported in the evening that the government was "furious" that the photos ended up in the New York Times:

"We are furious. This is completely unacceptable. These images leaked from inside the US system will be distressing for victims, their families and the wider public. The issue is being raised at every relevant level by the British authorities with their US counterparts."

The Financial Times reported this morning that British authorities are considering withholding sensitive information from Washington because the leaks, they fear, are endangering British lives.

On BBC Radio 5 Live, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the US "must stop" leaking info to the media.

He said:

"The last thing we need is prolonged diplomatic now. Nobody wants that, but this cannot be justified in any way. There must be a clear statement from the top of the US government today that this will stop immediately.

"For people somewhere else, not connected to the investigation, to be undermining it is, quite frankly, disgusting."

Meanwhile, 17 victims, out of the 22 killed from the suicide bombing at Manchester Arena on Monday, have been named, while others remain missing.

Eilidh Macleod, a 14-year-old Scottish girl was one of the latest to be named:

This story is developing ...

More victims named as a 'significant' connection is made between Salman Abedi and ISIS recruiter Raphael Hostey. Read Full Story