Manchester attack: UK threat level reduced from critical to severe – as it happened

Police have stepped up security at a number of events this weekend, PA reports. Most are expected to go ahead as planned, albeit with more police officers around. Plans to bolster security at events, including Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Hull, were first announced on Tuesday.

Going ahead:

• Premiership Rugby final, Twickenham. Exeter Chiefs battle Wasps in south-west London, with kick-off scheduled for 2.30pm after a minute’s silence for the victims of Monday’s attack. England Rugby advised fans to allow extra time to access the stadium and avoid bringing bags where possible.

• Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Hull. Music fans heading to see Katy Perry, Little Mix, Biffy Clyro and others should allow extra time to undergo two rounds of security procedures. Police will be on hand at checks at transport hubs and a second check will be carried out at the site entrances. Asst Ch Con Andy McDyer said on Tuesday: “Be prepared to be searched.”

• Birmingham Pride. The parade begins at midday with a large number of police officers, specials and police staff on hand to keep the public safe, West Midlands police said. Anyone who sees something suspicious is urged to tell a police officer or member of security staff. Supt Phil Dolby said: “I appreciate that people planning to attend may feel a sense of nervousness following events earlier this week in Manchester, but I would like to offer some reassurance that a full policing operation is in place and is subject to ongoing reviews.”

• Chelsea Flower Show, London. Visitors on the last day of the show are urged to “remain extra vigilant” and report any concerns to staff or security immediately. Organisers say they are continuing to work closely with the Metropolitan police in light of recent events.
  

• FA Cup final, Wembley. The Duke of Cambridge and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, are expected to join tens of thousands of Arsenal and Chelsea fans at the north-west London stadium. The Football Association said enhanced security measures would be in place and fans are urged to arrive at least an hour before the 5.30pm kick-off.

Cancelled:

• Screening of the FA Cup final at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal said they reluctantly made the decision following the raising of the threat level.
  

Our reporter Josh Halliday is at the scene in Cheetham Hill where police blew off the doors of a house before storming in and arresting two men, aged 20 and 22, on suspicion of terrorism offences.

27 May 201703.23 EDT

Damien Gayle

Hello, Damien Gayle taking the reins of the live blog now and for the rest of today.

Greater Manchester police this morning said they have been carrying out searches at a third address in Cheetham Hill, and another property was being searched in Moss Side.

We have reporters heading to the scenes to find out what’s going on.

We are going to leave the blog there for now. Thanks for reading. For all the latest news on the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack, please visit our dedicated page.

Saturday’s front pages are dominated by extra security on the Bank Holiday and Theresa May accusing Jeremy Corbyn of making excuses for terror attacks.

The Press Association reports:

GMP said officers made the latest arrests as they executed a warrant at an address in Cheetham Hill, north of the city centre.

It followed searches at a separate property in Cheetham Hill and an address in the Longsight area in south Manchester.

Hello, we are back with news that Greater Manchester police have arrested two more men and used a controlled explosion to gain access to an address in Cheetham Hill.

We are going to pause our live coverage of the aftermath of the attacks for now. For the latest news from Manchester, please visit our dedicated page. Here is what we know so far:

• Police made two arrests on Friday, one in Moss Side and one in Rusholme, taking the number of people in custody to nine. The cousins of the bomber are believed to be among those attested. A 34-year-old woman and 16-year-old boy who were also arrested have been released without charge.
• Police now say a “large part” of the Manchester attack network has been detained.
• The manager of a St Helens pizza shop that was raided by police this morning has claimed that his friend Aimen Elwafi who rented a property to the bomber, Salman Abedi, is one of the people in custody after the Manchester Arena attack. Mohamed Elhudarey said his friend Elwafi, 38, who helped him run Lorenzo Pizza in St Helens, found curtain fabric cut into squares, a strip of metal, and the fire alarms disabled when he re-entered the flat in Blackley, north-west Manchester.
  
• Police have escorted two more men from a property in Moss Side where three others had been led away this morning. After three men were seen leaving with police earlier on Friday, the property was left without a police presence in the form of officers or marked vehicles. After the first police entry, one of the men still present welcomed the Guardian into the property.
• British police have resumed sharing information with their counterparts in the US after a brief suspension over a series of leaks by American officials to journalists providing details of the Manchester bomb investigation. The suspension lasted less than 24 hours. The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said the US took responsibility for the leaks.
• The home secretary, Amber Rudd, says the terrorist threat level will remain at critical, and the public can expect to see troops at major events this weekend. The Metropolitan police said armoured police vehicles will be deployed at the FA Cup final at Wembley. Theresa May will chair a Cobra meeting on Saturday morning.
• May has said “there can be no excuse for what happened in Manchester”, and denied that under-funding of the police had left the city vulnerable.
• Abedi had close connections with criminal gangs as well as known and suspected terrorists in Manchester.Abedi, 22, associated with a gang that has for years waged war with a rival grouping in south Manchester, the Guardian has learned after speaking to members of the local community.
• The UK’s foreign policy and approach to fighting terrorism is not working, Jeremy Corbyn has said. The Labour leader said there must be more money for law enforcement, as he suggested Britain’s intervention in wars abroad had fuelled the risk of terrorism at home.
• The broadcaster Katie Hopkins and LBC have agreed she will leave her job at the radio station with immediate effect. Earlier this week Hopkins called for a “final solution” following the Manchester attack.

The front page of tomorrow’s Manchester Evening News: