House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Tuesday that U.S. officials have not yet verified the Islamic State's claim regarding the Manchester attacks but that he was "relatively confident" the terrorist group was behind it.
"The way this was carried out was very premeditated, using devices you can make at home," the Texas Republican told Wolf Blitzer on CNN. "ISIS magazine had instructions on how to a build a bomb in the kitchen."
He noted Osama bin Laden's son, Hamza bin Laden, now 28, vowed last week to attack the West to avenge his father's 2011 death by U.S. Navy SEALs. Bin Laden headed al-Qaida.
"Either way, it's radical Islamic jihad."
McCaul noted Monday's attack that killed 22 people and wounded 59 others at a Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena "seems a little more sophisticated than we've seen in the past."
Police have named the suspected bomber as Salman Abedi, 22.
"This one seems to be a little more premeditated, planned-out, sophisticated," the congressman emphasized.
"Obviously, the terrorist chose a soft target right outside the concert hall before you get to the train station," he added. "This was the softest, most-vulnerable spot.
"That's where he waited for the majority of people to walk outside before he hit them."
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