Pictured on a beach with friends: Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi

Salman Abedi, far right, pictured as a schoolboy on a beach in Libya with friends

The Manchester suicide bomber was today described as an “ordinary” and “quiet” schoolboy who smoked drugs, before turning into a militant jihadist.

New pictures emerged today of Salman Abedi, with friends on a beach, believed to be in Libya, and outside his Manchester home aged about 14 or 15.

Friends said he smoked cannabis and showed little interest in religion until about a year ago when he started spending time with different friends.

One said: “It was like a turning point. He suddenly started hanging out with people I’d never seen before and not his old friends.”

Another said: “He was just a normal kid — not one of those who ever particularly stood out.”

Salman Abedi has been identified as the man behind the suicide bombing in Manchester

Abedi went to Burnage Academy and was said to be a keen footballer, often playing at the ground at Whalley Range High School where the Manchester United Foundation held soccer sessions, they said.

It emerged he had only just returned from war-torn Libya before launching his horrific attack. He is understood to have made regular journeys to the North African country in recent years.

Victims in the foyer of Manchester Arena after the attack
PA

It has been claimed he may have also spent time in Syria.

Former London student Martyn Hett, 29, became the latest victim of the suicide bombing to be named among the people killed.

He was killed two days before he was due to embark on a two-month trip to the United States.

Manchester Arena explosion aftermath - In pictures

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In total, 12 of the victims have so far been named by friends, family and officials, with an 8-year-old girl among those killed.

A huge security clampdown was launched today as three men were arrested in south Manchester in connection with the concert bomb attack.

A massive counter terror operation was also under way to trace accomplices of Abedi.

British army officers were today pictured at Buckingham Palace and Downing Street as security was stepped up across the capital.

Prime Minister Theresa May raised the country’s terror threat to critical last night and warned another attack could be “imminent”.

In London, Changing the Guard at the Palace was cancelled and Parliament was closed to the public, with soldiers also likely to be on duty his weekend’s FA Cup final at Wembley and the Twickenham rugby premiership final.

Reports said that 22-year-old Abedi may have travelled to Manchester by train from London raising the possibility the device was assembled in the capital.

A “knifeman” was also arrested outside Buckingham Palace in a dramatic swoop by officers on Wednesday, with security on high-alert near the capital’s landmarks.

The incident is not thought to be related to terrorism.

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