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Britain lowers terrorism alert level

The threat level in the UK has been lowered to 'severe' after the terror attack in Manchester, which claimed 22 lives, as police hold 11 people in custody.

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Source: AAP


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The terrorism alert level in Britain has been lowered from 'critical' to 'severe' after this week's Manchester attack, British Prime Minister Theresa May says.

A designation of 'critical' means an attack is imminent, while 'severe' means it is highly likely.

The country has been on an increased terrorism alert setting since Monday, when a bombing at a pop concert in Manchester left 22 dead.

Police made two more arrests in relation to the attack early on Saturday, bringing the total number of people detained to 11.

Also on Saturday, authorities ordered residents to evacuate part of Manchester's Moss Side district amid a further action related to the attack.

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Boscombe Street was cleared on Saturday morning, with one witness saying that a bomb disposal van had been parked at the junction with Yew Tree Road.

May also said members of the British military will continue to be deployed domestically for extra security through the end of Monday, which is a bank holiday in Britain.

Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour party, said he was "concerned that the army has now been deployed ... mainly because of the shortage in police numbers".

"A Labour government has pledged absolutely clearly it will employ 10,000 more police, not less police," said Corbyn, who is campaigning ahead of a snap election on June 8.


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