UK police arrest 16th person in connection with Manchester attack as security services probe missed warnings

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Armed police officers stand on duty in central Manchester, Britain, May 28, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Thomson Reuters

Armed police officers stand on duty in central Manchester

LONDON - British police said on Monday they had arrested a 16th person in connection with the Manchester suicide bombing last week.

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The 23-year-old man was arrested in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, "on suspicion on offences contrary to the terrorism act", Greater Manchester Police said on Twitter.

A total of 16 people have been arrested in connection with the attack, in which 22 people died. Two were released without charge, while 14 men remained in custody for questioning, the police said.

The news comes as MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence agency, reportedly launched two inquiries into how it missed the threat posed by the Manchester bomber, Salman Abedi, amid claims that his radicalisation had repeatedly been flagged to authorities.

The Guardian reports that one investigation was launched last week, which will aim to identify "glaring errors," while the other will be more in-depth.

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Home secretary Amber Rudd did not comment on Sunday when asked if opportunities had been missed to spot Abedi's potential threat as a terrorist.

(Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)