By James Simons-
Uk prime minister, Theresa May has approved a request for armed personnel to be placed at key sites in the country.
Up to 50,000 soldiers have been deployed in a race to foil a second terrorist attack, as the country’ s security alert is raised from ‘severe’ to ‘critical’ .
DEPLOYED
The soldiers will be deployed as part of operation Temperer, with the prime minister announcing that they will be at large events including concerts and football matches.
It is the first time operation temperer , set up after Paris attack in 2015 has been mobilised. May said ” I do not want the public to feel unduly alarmed . We have faced a serious threat in our country for many years.
” And the operational response I have just outlined is a proportionate and sensible response to the threat that our security experts judge we face “I ask everybody to be vigilant and support the police as they go about their important work”.
The prime minister’s decision came after police asked for permission from the secretary of state for defence to place armed military personnel at key sites in the country.
REACTION
In her formal reaction to the terrorist attack, the prime minister said
“cowardice will be defeated by bravery and our values, the liberal , pluralistic values will always prevail over the hateful ideology of the terrorists”
She added that “while we mourn the victims of last night’s appalling attack, we stand defiant.
The spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain is far mightier than the sick plots of depraved terrorists. That’s why the terrorists will never win, and we will prevail. “