Manchester bombing investigators hunting network of terrorists swoop on suspect with ‘suspicious package’ in Wigan just hours after dramatic machine gun raid as number arrested reaches seven

COPS were in a desperate race against time to find the bomb gang behind the Manchester Arena massacre — before more families are destroyed.

Security chiefs believe the deadly device detonated by Salman Abedi was built by other ISIS fanatics in a city centre flat.

Undercover officers swooped on a suspect with a "suspicious package" in Wigan as the number of arrests made over the attack reached seven.

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The arrest came just hours after officers armed with machine guns and wearing gas masks raided a flat in Manchester city centre.

This evening armed cops raided a block of flats in Blackley, Greater Manchester, and arrested a woman in connection with the bombing. Later they made their seventh arrest, a man in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

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The swoops came after three men were arrested just streets away from where Manchester nail bomb terrorist Salman Abedi lived as Theresa May raised the UK threat level to “critical” for the first time in 10 years.

Police are now assessing the package being carried by the suspect arrested in Wigan with bomb squads reportedly called in.

Abedi, who US officials said was identified by a bank card found among his remains, detonated a nail bomb on Monday night killing 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert, with many of his victims being youngsters.

He is thought to have been a "mule" using a device built by someone else, the BBC reports.

A police source told the Manchester Evening News: "They don't waste bomb makers. The reason we have gone to critical is because he is still out there and the fear is that he will strike again before they get caught."

Police chiefs have said they are investigating the possibility of "a network" linked to the bomber, admitting there are gaps in their knowledge.

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Today the dad of Abedi, who claims his son is innocent, was arrested in Libya.

The younger brother of the bomber, Hashem Abedi, has also been arrested in Tripoli along with his older brother in the UK yesterday.

The father told the Associated Press from Tripoli: "We don't believe in killing innocents. This is not us."

Armed police and men clad in balaclavas also stormed the Granby House building on Granby Row, in central Manchester today.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins confirmed a controlled explosion had taken place at the address and that a nearby railway was briefly closed during the raid.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "Officers have this afternoon carried out a search at an address in Manchester City Centre as part of the investigation into the horrific incident at Manchester Arena.

"That search is ongoing.

"In order to do this safely we briefly closed a railway line, but it has now been reopened."

The Home Secretary Amber Rudd this morning said it's "likely" Abedi "was not doing this on his own" as police arrested three more men in South Manchester in connection with the incident.

A Libyan family, a father, his wife and their two sons, aged in their late teens or early 20s, were taken away by armed police who raided a property on Aston Avenue, Fallowfield, at around 2.30am on Wednesday, neighbours said.

The house is less than a mile from the former home of Abedi.

The BBC has since revealed that two people who knew Salman Abedi had made separate calls to authorities with concerns about the man’s views, including that being a suicide bomber was “OK”.

The Sun revealed the killer is suspected of receiving terror training in Syria, where he may have visited secretly while seeing family in Libya.

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Today French interior minister Gerard Collomb has said the Manchester bomber is believed to have travelled to Syria and had "proven" links with the Islamic State terror group.

Mr Collomb said: "He was a British national of Libyan origin, he grew up in Great Britain.

"All of a sudden he travelled to Libya and then most likely to Syria, became radicalised and decided to commit this attack."

The monster – who was killed when he detonated a bomb at Ariana Grande’s gig on Monday night that killed concert-goers as young as eight – was born and grew up in Britain.

Abedi’s family originally hail from Libya and he is thought to have visited the North African country - also a haven for ISIS fighters - regularly in recent years.

Sources said there were fears Abedi may have taken advantage of the conflict to make the simple journey across the Med to Syria without alerting the British authorities.

One revealed: “His potential ties to Syria now very much forms one line of inquiry.”

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Eight-year-old schoolgirl Saffie Roussos was named as one of the victims along with student Georgina Callander, 26-year-old John Atkinson and brave aunt Kelly Brewster, 32, who shielded her niece from the deadly blast.

Mums Alison Howe, 44, and Lisa Lees, 43, were also killed while waiting for their kids to leave the show and teenager Olivia Campbell who sparked an emotional TV appeal have also been listed among the dead.

Also confirmed dead are Angelika and Marcin Klis, a Polish couple whose daughter launched a desperate appeal to find them yesterday.

Friends of  “iconic” Martyn Hett, 29, and young farmer Nell Jones, who is believed to have been on crutches at the time, confirmed both were killed.

Police today said they were "confident" they know the identity of all the people who died. They also confirmed an off-duty police officer died in the attack.

Jane Tweddle-Taylor, from Blackpool, was also killed at the Manchester Arena after going to pick a friend's daughter up.

Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, and Michelle Kiss  are the latest victims confirmed dead after warped killer Salman Abedi detonated his bomb as fans left the gig.

The horrific attack came as:

• The Sun has launched 'Together With Manchester' appeal and donated £100,000 to get it going
• At least 22 people died and a further 64 were injured, with 20 still "critical"
• The number of named fatalities increased to 15, including a friend of football manager Sam Allardyce and a woman who acted as a human shield in the blast
• Terrorist named as British-born Salman Abedi, 22, who was 'known to MI5'
• Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it's "likely" Abedi "was not doing this on his own"
• Cops raided two addresses and arrested Abedi's brother Ismail, 23
• The second brother of the bomber, Hashem, has also been arrested
• Bomber's dad Ramadan Abedi who denied his son is linked to militants or the suicide bombing has been arrested
• Theresa May is to demand why US security services leaked confidential pictures and details of the bombing scene to the US media
• The PM will also make a passionate call at today's NATO summit for all 28 members to unite against ISIS for the first time
• Counter-terrorism agencies were reported to have missed at least five opportunities to stop killer Abedi over five years
• Police are investigating "a network" linked to the bomber amid reports killer was a 'mule'
• French interior minister said bomber is believed to have travelled to Syria and had "proven" links with Isis
• Theresa May raised the UK threat level to "critical"
• The Government has ordered up to 3,800 troops on the streets to support the police
• Victims included an eight-year-old girl and an aunt who shielded her niece from blast
• The Queen praised the people of Manchester for their compassion
• Ariana Grande's concerts in London on Thursday and Friday cancelled
• A nationwide minute's silence will be held at 11am today

Business management student Abedi’s identity emerged soon after armed cops dramatically stormed his home in Manchester, at around noon yesterday.

The uni dropout's older brother, computer expert Ismail, 23, was arrested in a separate raid and was being quizzed by anti-terror cops last night.

It came hours after Abedi had blown himself up in the foyer of a packed Manchester Arena, as 21,000 fans left a concert.

Abedi's device - thought to have been wrapped with nuts and bolts to send out a cloud of deadly shrapnel - detonated at 10.33pm.

The death toll currently stands at 22 - with the youngest victim aged just eight.

Of the grim casualty total, 12 children under 16 were injured and it is understood 20 people are still "critical" out of a total of 64 injured.

They are said to be suffering from "horrific injuries" including major organ damage and potential loss of limbs, Jon Rouse of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership has said.

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US security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in 1994 to parents who had fled to the UK to escape the Gaddafi regime.

His dad is understood to have left the UK in 2011 to try and overthrow the Libyan leader.

The Mail Online reports when Gaddafi was killed the family put a massive flag on the  roof of their house.

Neighbour Debbie Smith, 53, said: “I think they were glad he was dead.”

Follow The Sun's live blog for the latest updates as they break

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said Abedi was known "up to a point" to the intelligence services.

When asked in an interview with the BBC this morning if the attacker was a "lone wolf" or not Rudd said: "It seems likely, possible, that he wasn’t doing this on his own."

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Theresa May said Britain is braced for further terrorist attacks after the atrocity.

The military will be providing armed guards for key locations across London including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and embassies, Scotland Yard said.

The Government has activated Operation Temperer, providing up to 3,800 troops to support the police in their security operations.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed 984 members of the military would help today at the request of police.

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Following an emergency Cobra meeting, Mrs May said the independent body which sets the threat level has increased it from “severe” to “critical”.

She said: "This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent.

The defiant PM described the massacre as “callous and cowardly” and declared “terrorists will never win”.

Cowardly ISIS warlords  - hiding in Syria - have claimed responsibility for the gutless attack.

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Thousands gathered last night to remember the victims of the atrocity in a series of vigils across the country.

The people of Manchester have been encouraged to "get back to normal" as the city vows to continue with its day-to-day business.

But while the city's mayor Andy Burnham said it is important to send out a message that the people will not be "beaten", he also said the city is going through "very difficult times".

He confirmed the Great City Games is set to go ahead this weekend.

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