Cops detain 19-year-old relative of suicide bomber Salman Abedi at Liverpool John Lennon Airport over Manchester bomb blast
A RELATIVE of suicide bomber Salman Abedi was arrested today - just 24 hours after cops said they expected to arrest others in connection with the Manchester Arena attack.
The 19-year-old - understood to be a cousin - was held at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on suspicion of offences contrary to the Terrorism Act and remains in custody.
He was arrested as he arrived into the UK.
A house in Fallowfield, South Manchester, was also searched in connection with the arrest.
As it stands, 23 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, of which two were quickly de-arrested, and 20 were released without charge.
Neighbours said a woman and two teenage boys lived at the address.
One said: “The boys who live there are related to Salman Abedi through their father. Everyone knows that. Everyone here knows there is a family link.”
Another eye witness said: "His mum was inside when two Tactical Aid units turned up and searched the house.
The news comes after police revealed "more arrests are possible", confirming they are liaising with authorities in Libya about warped bomber Salman Abedi's brother over the atrocity in May.
The 19-year-old arrested today is not the depraved monster's brother, cops confirmed.
Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson said he believed others were either "aware or complicit" in the horrific attack, saying cops were still piecing together details about the bomber's background and beliefs.
He said planning of the attack had taken "many months", telling media that the bomber had access to student loans and other resources to fund his travel and rent.
He said: "We do believe that there are other people potentially involved in this. We do however believe further arrests are possible."
He confirmed that police now wanted to interview brother Hashem Abedi, who was arrested in Tripoli after the attack at an Ariana Grande concert.
Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service are currently speaking with the Libyan authorities.
Investigators have trawled through three million files and 16,000 hours of CCTV footage as they try to trace Abedi's movements in the days and weeks leading the bomb blast.
Police have previously revealed they believed Abedi had bought bomb parts just days after arriving in the UK from Turkey.
The bomb had been made for just £66, with the bomber using easy-to-buy items from B&Q and Screwfix.
Officers are also trying to find a missing blue suitcase the killer was seen dragging around.
The killer had been caught on CCTV before the attack, stalking the streets of Manchester.
An ongoing review by security services is under way into what was known about Abedi by the authorities, after claims that he had been reported more than once over his extremist attitude.
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It is now known he left the country on April 15 and arrived back on May 18, buying parts for the nail bomb he built upon his return.
Twenty-two people - including an eight-year-old girl - were killed when deranged Abedi detonated a nail bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena on May 22.
Hundreds were injured by the flying shrapnel and families were separated in the carnage.
Ariana Grande has paid tribute to her fans killed in the horror, with the singer writing a message to the youngest victim on what would have been her ninth birthday: "Saffie, we’re [thinking] of you baby".
Police have said they are aware of the raw emotions around the attack, with Mr Jackson saying: "This is a live criminal investigation where central to it are 22 murdered people, with grieving families."