Meeting of the cabinets emergency committee, cobra, the third in the past 2a hours. Good progress with the operation has been made with a number of arrests made over night, and that will continue. We have now gone to a critical level in terms of the threat. Well have all the latest live with huw in manchester. The other headlines this lunchtime. President trump meets the pope at the vatican and receives a signed copy of the pontiffs views on Climate Change. And profits at Marks And Spencer fell by almost two thirds last year, following a costly business overhaul. And coming up in the sport on bbc news. Manchester united fans pay tribute to the victims of monday nights attack, ahead of Tonights Europa League final in stockholm. Good afternoon from Albert Square in the heart of manchester. This is where thousands gathered last night for a vigil, to remember the victims of monday nights bomb attack at the manchester arena. People have been coming here all morning to leave messages. Let me
Tributes are being paid to the victims of monday nights attack. The suspect, salman abedi, a 22 year old born in manchester to libyan parents had been known to Security Services. It is said it is unlikely he was acting alone. The Terror Threat alert has been raised to critical, its highest level. More rate of taken place across the city today as Police Continue their investigation. So far, four people have been arrested, one is the suspects older brother. The bbc understands the bomber is thought to have detonated a device built by someone else. The Terror Threat alert indicates further attacks may be imminent. Hundreds of troops have been deployed to protect key sites across the country, including Downing Street. An Off Duty Female Police Officer was among the 22 killed in the attack. Husband is critically ill and their two children were also injured. We will have all the latest elements in manchester and reaction, but first this report. Of those killed in the attack on monday night,
The lorry and a car, so it was a very challenging scene. The lorry driver, who is from the west midlands, is being questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Happened, when it was early in the morning, traffic would have been relatively light and driving conditions were apparently good. Police are still trying to trace the victims next of kin, and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Liz copper, bbc news, stafford. The high street giant Marks And Spencer has seen its profits plummet in the last year. They dropped by 64 to £176 million. The retailer said the cost of overhauling the business, a decline in Clothing Sales, and the costs of opening new food stores were partly to blame. Our business correspondent, emma simpson reports. Ad campaign no excuses. No staying silent. No holding back. The new campaign. The boss of m s isnt holding back either. Hes been making big changes, but theyve come at a cost. International stores like this one are closing. So
Is it working . Or do we need a drastic rethink . We talk to people on both sides of the debate. The bombing has caused upset right across the country, but how do those who have to investigate it and deal with its aftermath cope . Chief superintendentJohn Sutherland spent years on the front line of policing and will be talking about the toll dealing with such events can take. Hello. Welcome to the programme, were live until 11. 00 this morning. Do get in touch on all the stories were talking about this morning, general Election Campaigning resumes today and ukip will be launching their manifesto. We will be looking at that later in the programme. Bbc news has been told that the police have stopped Sharing Information about the Manchester Bombing with officials in the united states, following a series of leaks thought to have come from the american intelligence community. Last night, the New York Times published photographs apparently showing fragments from the bomb and a backpack used
Well, spontaneous and led the applause here in st annes square in manchester, and you mightjust have been able to tell, there was a man towards the back of the crowd in this very bright Manchester Sun here, who said well done, manchester. And then the applause broke out again. And absolutely baking hot day in st annes square, and hundreds of hundreds of people, i cant even calculate, perhaps at least a thousand people have come here to the square for that moment of silence that is marked across the country to remember those who lost their lives. Here, at the Manchester Arena, less than a mile away, people have continued to lay flowers there. Really lovely to meet you. I know you work fairly near here. Explain why you wanted to come here for this moment of silence . We live and work in the city. You dont really know what to do in this situation. If you can doa what to do in this situation. If you can do a small act by being here, it makes you feel like you can contribute. Applause just