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Chilling CCTV image captures moment Manchester bomber ‘bought rucksack’

Manchester bomber Salman Abedi was captured by security cameras in the Arndale shopping centre on Friday – carrying a rucksack he had just bought.

The rucksack still had price tags on it – and looks similar to remnants of a blue Karrimor bag found at the attack site at the Manchester arena.

Abedi withdrew £250 from a cash machine and went into the shopping centre in central Manchester, three days before his attack.

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The images were captured by CCTV cameras within the centre – and show Abedi dressed in black, carrying the rucksack.

Photographs from the investigations published by American newspapers showed remnants of blue material – which the New York Times reported came from a Karrimor rucksack carried by Abedi.

Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi (handout)
Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi (handout)

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the barbaric attack, which involved a home-made device packed with nuts and bolts which exploded in the venue’s foyer as thousands of young people were leaving.

Police forensic investigators search the property of Salmon Abedi (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)
Police forensic investigators search the property of Salmon Abedi (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

This week, Prime Minister Theresa May became the first PM to put into effect Operation Temperer – a plan to deploy up to 5,000 troops on British streets.

The plan was devised in 2015 after terrorist attacks in France – and mirrors a similar French measure, Operation Sentinelle.

It was activated after a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee.

Amber Rudd said the move was temporary but refused to be drawn on how long the heightened state of alert would remain in place.

Under the plan, armed troops will be deployed to guard “key locations” such as Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and embassies, Scotland Yard said.