Defiance of Manchester Thousands take to streets for run

Defiance of Manchester Thousands take to streets for run



Tens of thousands of defiant runners turned out to pound the pavements in the first major city-centre event since 22 people were killed by the Manchester bomber.There were initial fears the Great Manchester Run would be abandoned after the atrocity on Monday night, but organisers vowed the annual event for 40,000 would go ahead amid heightened security.

Officers armed with assault rifles are dotted around the course, standing guard as runners trot by watched by huge crowds who are lining the route.

A day after 50,000 watched Courtneeners perform at a homecoming gig at Old Trafford, the home of Lancashire Cricket Club, the city's streets were packed with elite runners, children and amateurs.

The event comes six days after Salman Abedi blew himself up at Manchester Arena as thousands were piling out of the venue having watched Ariana Grande, killing 22 and injuring at least 119.

The junior races kicked off this morning, and before the main race, the runners fell silent for a minute to remember the victims of Monday night's terror attack.

As well as elite runners, charity runners will be taking part to raise money for a number of causes - including a fund for the families of the Manchester bombing's victims.

Those running were determined to show they would not bow to terror.

Matthew Hayhurst posted a picture of himself arm-in-arm with his family simply with the caption, 'We are not afraid'.

Each are wearing a message on their backs with their names followed by 'is not afraid'.

David Hart said: 'Whether running it, watching it, or working it, here's to the #greatmanchesterrun and our chance to show the resolve of this great city.'

Another runner, Matt, said: 'Proudly running the streets of Manchester this weekend in the Great Manchester Run. We won't let these people win. We stand together.'

The half marathon got under way at 9am while the larger 10k will start at 12.45pm.



As the defiant runners swell the population of the city, the investigation into deranged killer Salman Abedi and his suspected network of terrorists continues.

CCTV images have been revealed showing the murderer just minutes before he detonated his homemade bomb on his way to Manchester Arena.

Despite an obvious hatred of the West, Abedi was wearing £150 Nike Air Jordan trainers and a Hollister body warmer - two American clothing brands.



It appears to run in the family as his younger brother was planning an attack on a United Nations special envoy.

Reports claim Hashem Abedi, 20, had plotted to assassinate Martin Kobler, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, during a visit to Tripoli earlier this year.

The terrorist cell were thought to be in the later stages of the plan, but it was foiled before it could be executed.

The Islamic extremist group had been monitored for some months by Libyan security services who believe the younger Abedi brother is a 'significant player, reports the Telegraph.

He was arrested at the Abedi family home in Tripoli on Tuesday and is being interrogated by MI6 and Libyan intelligence over his role in the Manchester Arena bombing last Monday.

As a result of Monday night's attack, a Muslim former police chief has declared thousands of radical extremists must be locked up in new internment camps to protect Britain from the unprecedented terror threat it faces.

Writing exclusively for The Mail on Sunday, Tarique Ghaffur warns there are too many extremists on the streets for police and MI5 officers to monitor.

Mr Ghaffur, an Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard when the 7/7 bombings took place, proposes that special centres be set up to detain as many as 3,000 extremists, where they can be kept from launching attacks.

They would also be made to go through a de-radicalisation programme.