Manchester terror attack police investigating “network” over concert bombing

Police have confirmed they are investigating a “network” in connection with the Manchester bombing as it emerged an off-duty female officer was killed in the atrocity.

As a huge inquiry into the attack continued, the father of perpetrator Salman Abedi claimed his son was innocent, saying: “We don’t believe in killing innocents. This is not us.”

In other developments on Wednesday detectives made a further three arrests in connection with the investigation, taking the number of people in custody to four.

Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more seriously injured when Abedi, 22, detonated a device as fans left Manchester Arena, where US star Ariana Grande was performing on Monday night