Police release pictures of Manchester bomber with blue suitcase

Police investigating the Manchester Arena attack have released CCTV pictures of the bomber wheeling a large blue suitcase.

Detectives from the north-west counter-terror unit say they know Salman Abedi visited the Wilmslow Road area of Manchester, known locally as the Curry Mile, and was seen with the suitcase in the city centre.

They are trying to piece together his movements from 18 May, when he arrived back in the UK from Libya, and 22 May, when he detonated a bomb, killing 22 people and injuring 116 others.

DCS Russ Jackson from the counter-terrorism unit appealed for information.

He said: “We continue to track the final movements of Salman Abedi and are particularly interested in his whereabouts between 18 and 22 May 2017.

“Today, we are releasing an image of Abedi carrying a distinctive blue suitcase and an image of a replica of the case.

“Did you see Abedi with this suitcase between the 18 and 22 May 2017? Where did you see him with it during that time? You may have seen him in the Wilmslow Road area or Manchester city centre with the suitcase or know where the suitcase has been. If you have any details about the suitcase we need you to get in touch and let us know.

“We believe Abedi was in possession of this case in the days before the attack at Manchester Arena on Monday 22 May. I want to stress that this is a different item than the one he used in the attack. This image was taken from CCTV in the city centre on 22 May.

“We have no reason to believe the case and its contents contain anything dangerous, but would ask people to be cautious. Anybody with information about the whereabouts of the case between 18 and 22 May should call the anti-terrorist hotline in confidence on 0800 789321.

“The public should not approach the case if they see it but contact police immediately on 999.

“This remains a live investigation and if you have any images or footage you believe can assist us then please upload them to UKpoliceimageappeal.co.uk or UKpoliceimageappeal.com as soon as you can.”