# Explosions at Manchester Arena (England) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243 "2017-05-22T23:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/121 "2017-05-23T17:00:48Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [Everything we know about Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/23/salman-abedi-named-manchester-suicide-bomber-know) says he was the son of Libyan refugees. I’m not sure about the U.K.'s naturalization laws. If someone is born in Manchester to Libyan refugees, does he become a British subject automatically, similar to how American citizenship is given at birth? It would be British citizen, not subject. There are still a very few British subjects, but it has formally been citizens for UK people since the 1980s. > [@](#): > > It’s odd to me that so much information coming out is “according to US officials.” Do the Brits routinely withhold information in situations like this? Are they just more cautious in vetting and verifying it before releasing information? This has been quite noticeable with this story - US networks announcing things before UK ones. I suspect that the British police are briefing their US counterparts (FBI, I suppose) and those counterparts are leaking info to the US media. Here’s a pretty good Buzzfeed article about this: > **[US Officials Keep Talking About The Manchester Attack And It’s Freaking Out...](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mitchprothero/us-officials-keep-talking-about-the-manchester-attack-and)** > > Even some officials in Washington were frustrated by the fact that the information was coming from the US rather than the UK, calling it “unprofessional.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/122 "2017-05-23T17:06:20Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > According to [this](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4534224/Security-agents-know-Ariana-Grande-concert-bomber-s-name.html) the following twitter [message](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/23/13/40AE6C3200000578-4532890-A_Twitter_account_which_was_unverified_posted_this_hours_before_-a-54_1495541745609.jpg)was posted 4 hours before the suicide bombing: > > “#ISLAMICSTATE > #manchesterarena > #UK #British > ARE YOU FORGET OUR THREAT? > THIS IS THE JUST TERROR” > If this is true, it was not a “lone wolf”. Which is also supported by the fact that the bomb was a “sophisticated” one. Bombmakers who can make “sophisticated” bombs usually do not go out as suicide bombers. ISIS has already taken credit for the bombing this morning. However it not yet verified if they actually orchestrated it or are taking credit now. > **[Manchester attack: What we know so far](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40008389)** > > A suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured 116 at Manchester Arena. Here is what we know. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/123 "2017-05-23T17:12:00Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > ISIS has already taken credit for the bombing this morning. However it not yet verified if they actually orchestrated it or are taking credit now. > > [Manchester attack: What we know so far - BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40008389) Note that the twitter message I posted is claimed in the article to have been posted **4 hours before the suicide bombing**. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/124 "2017-05-23T17:12:25Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > According to [this](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4534224/Security-agents-know-Ariana-Grande-concert-bomber-s-name.html) the following twitter [message](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/23/13/40AE6C3200000578-4532890-A_Twitter_account_which_was_unverified_posted_this_hours_before_-a-54_1495541745609.jpg)was posted 4 hours before the suicide bombing: That tweet has the date in US format, so given the time difference it was probably posted after the bombing. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/125 "2017-05-23T17:17:15Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Note that the twitter message I posted is claimed in the article to have been posted **4 hours before the suicide bombing**. What does that have to do with what I said? I was addressing your insight that it wasn’t a lone wolf. It had already been established that it probably wasn’t a lone wolf. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/126 "2017-05-23T17:17:27Z")
It would be extremely counterproductive to ISIS-tweet “#manchester arena” \*before \*the attack. > [@](#): > > “#ISLAMICSTATE > **#manchesterarena** > #UK #British > ARE YOU FORGET OUR THREAT? > THIS IS THE JUST TERROR” ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/127 "2017-05-23T17:18:03Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > That tweet has the date in US format, so given the time difference it was probably posted after the bombing. Daily Mail article claims it was before. I would hope that due to the gravity of the “four hours before” implication, they would have checked. They don’t link to the message (or maybe it was deleted) so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/128 "2017-05-23T17:19:04Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > What does that have to do with what I said? > > I was addressing your insight that it wasn’t a lone wolf. It had already been established that it probably wasn’t a lone wolf. ? ISIS claims a lot of “lone wolf” attacks after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/129 "2017-05-23T17:21:07Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Daily Mail article claims it was before. Use your brain. Time stamp says USA. Time zone says after the event. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/130 "2017-05-23T17:21:42Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Daily Mail article claims it was before. I would hope that due to the gravity of the “four hours before” implication, they would have checked. I think assuming that the Daily Mail checked is charmingly naive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/131 "2017-05-23T17:23:27Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > ? ISIS claims a lot of “lone wolf” attacks after the fact. ISIS would claim responsibility for a late train if they thought it would get them publicity. Lets wait for some facts. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/132 "2017-05-23T17:31:21Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > This has been quite noticeable with this story - US networks announcing things before UK ones. I suspect that the British police are briefing their US counterparts (FBI, I suppose) and those counterparts are leaking info to the US media. Here’s a pretty good Buzzfeed article about this: > > [US Officials Keep Talking About The Manchester Attack And It’s Freaking Out European Allies](https://www.buzzfeed.com/mitchprothero/us-officials-keep-talking-about-the-manchester-attack-and?utm_term=.uxzW5pJDX#.vyQm3qGjY) Jesus wept: > [@](#): > > In this case, I suspect the Brits are livid — I know we would be — to have a suspect ID’d before they’re ready, and obviously the recent performance of the Trump administration on leaking sensitive information can’t be far from anyone’s mind if they examine [the situation]." > > Even US officials were frustrated by the leak. Some called the US decision to release information about an ally’s investigation before even that nation had released it “unprofessional.” ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/133 "2017-05-23T17:37:51Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Jesus wept: FWIW, President Trump is one of those US officials frustrated by recent leaks. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/134 "2017-05-23T17:47:27Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > ? ISIS claims a lot of “lone wolf” attacks after the fact. I know that. Which is why I said: [QUOTE=Me] However it not yet verified if they actually orchestrated it or are taking credit now. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/135 "2017-05-23T17:50:33Z")
I’m thankful that security precautions kept the bomber out of the seating area of the arena. Panic can get a lot of people trampled and hurt. He had to settle for a public space just outside. That’s a vulnerable area at many stadiums and arenas. New security measures will be needed. ---
**Author:** ![Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delicious)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/136 "2017-05-23T18:47:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m thankful that security precautions kept the bomber out of the seating area of the arena. Panic can get a lot of people trampled and hurt. > > He had to settle for a public space just outside. > > That’s a vulnerable area at many stadiums and arenas. New security measures will be needed. There’ll always be a crowded place somewhere…presumably just outside the security measures. It’s shitty that this happened but there’s not too much more that can be done without turning into a police state. After the IRA bombing we didn’t have bins in the city centre for years…it was a bloody pain. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/137 "2017-05-23T20:58:24Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Fwiw, neither Google Image Search nor Tineye can find either of Ditka’s photos online timestamped prior to last night’s explosion. So yay for him, he’s likely won his little argument, and can now be confident that he has genuine gore pictures of dead kids and their parents. Huzzah! My apologies to HurricaneDitka and everyone else then. I saw that image posted on Twitter by an “unreliable” source followed by a torrent of replies consistently accusing the poster of posting a fake photo. I guess the lesson is never to trust Twitter whatever the circumstance. I should have known better! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/138 "2017-05-23T20:58:36Z")
More attacks may be imminent. The PM is using the military to protect key sites. I hope whatever is planned can be stopped. > **[Manchester attack: Three more arrests in bomber investigation](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40023488)** > > More victims are named, as the home secretary says it is likely Salman Abedi did not act alone. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/139 "2017-05-23T21:00:40Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > My apologies to HurricaneDitka and everyone else then. I saw that image posted on Twitter by an “unreliable” source followed by a torrent of replies consistently accusing the poster of posting a fake photo. I guess the lesson is never to trust Twitter whatever the circumstance. I should have known better! No problem. I saw lots of places spreading the “police exercise” explanation too. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/140 "2017-05-23T21:23:43Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > No problem. I saw lots of places spreading the “police exercise” explanation too. There was an emergency services exercise in Manchester last year, but it wasn’t at the Arena, but at the Trafford shopping centre. Twitter gets way too febrile when shit is happening. The video of the exercise linked in this article is, err, quite dramatic. > **[Police chief says Trafford Centre terror drill was a success, but 'we have...](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/terrorist-training-exercise-success-police-11327800)** > > Ian Hopkins says he hopes the exercise will raise public vigilance - and says 'Allahu Akbar' shout did not involve 'police officer or GMP employee' [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=8)