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Manchester attacker's brother 'helped him buy bomb-making kit' Manchester attacker's brother 'helped him buy bomb-making kit'
(about 1 hour later)
The brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber is alleged to have helped Salman Abedi buy bomb-making equipment, a militia group in Tripoli has said.The brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber is alleged to have helped Salman Abedi buy bomb-making equipment, a militia group in Tripoli has said.
The Special Deterrence Force, also called Rada, is holding Abedi’s brother Hashem after it captured him last month.The Special Deterrence Force, also called Rada, is holding Abedi’s brother Hashem after it captured him last month.
In an interview with Reuters news agency, Ahmed bin Salem, the group’s spokesman, said Hashem Abedi, 20, helped his brother buy bomb-making equipment in Britain and had insisted the device that killed 22 people at the arena was not smuggled into the country.In an interview with Reuters news agency, Ahmed bin Salem, the group’s spokesman, said Hashem Abedi, 20, helped his brother buy bomb-making equipment in Britain and had insisted the device that killed 22 people at the arena was not smuggled into the country.
“Hashem said that he bought all the necessary things for Salman for the attack from the UK and added that Salman was planning to carry out an attack but he did not know where,” Bin Salem said.“Hashem said that he bought all the necessary things for Salman for the attack from the UK and added that Salman was planning to carry out an attack but he did not know where,” Bin Salem said.
He said the brothers had been radicalised via the internet while living in Britain.He said the brothers had been radicalised via the internet while living in Britain.
“Hashem said that he and Salman got the ideology of Daesh [Islamic State] in Manchester in 2015 from the internet and some friends in the UK,” he said. “He [Hashem] added that they used to watch videos and had sympathy for children in Syria and wanted to do something for Daesh to help.”“Hashem said that he and Salman got the ideology of Daesh [Islamic State] in Manchester in 2015 from the internet and some friends in the UK,” he said. “He [Hashem] added that they used to watch videos and had sympathy for children in Syria and wanted to do something for Daesh to help.”
The claim, which cannot be independently verified, came as Manchester police continued piecing together the movements of Abedi, 22, whose father, Ramadan, escaped from Libya to the UK during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi.The claim, which cannot be independently verified, came as Manchester police continued piecing together the movements of Abedi, 22, whose father, Ramadan, escaped from Libya to the UK during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi.
Greater Manchester police said three men being held in connection with the suicide bombing have been released, leaving six still in police custody. A 31-year-old who handed himself in to detectives on Wednesday night will face no further action, along with a 44-year-old arrested on 26 May and a 20-year-old arrested on Tuesday, the force said.
Rada, a self-governing quasi-police force, is the most prominent and well-organised militia operating in Tripoli, and is aligned with the UN-backed government.Rada, a self-governing quasi-police force, is the most prominent and well-organised militia operating in Tripoli, and is aligned with the UN-backed government.
It detained Ramadan Abedi, 51, days after the Manchester attack and has been questioning Abedi’s mother, Samia Tabba, 50, who is not under arrest.It detained Ramadan Abedi, 51, days after the Manchester attack and has been questioning Abedi’s mother, Samia Tabba, 50, who is not under arrest.
Rada has said the brothers flew from Britain to Libya on 18 April, with Abedi travelling back to Manchester about a week before the attack, telling his parents he was going on pilgrimage to Mecca.Rada has said the brothers flew from Britain to Libya on 18 April, with Abedi travelling back to Manchester about a week before the attack, telling his parents he was going on pilgrimage to Mecca.
Bin Salem confirmed earlier reports that Abedi had phoned Tripoli on 15 May to say goodbye to his family before the attack.Bin Salem confirmed earlier reports that Abedi had phoned Tripoli on 15 May to say goodbye to his family before the attack.
“Salman phoned Hashem’s phone on the day of the attack to talk with his family. The mother had refused to talk with him because they were angry with him as he lied,” Bin Salem said. “Hashem knew about the attack and convinced his mother to talk to him … he said ‘Please, please mum, talk to him’. [The mother] said during the investigation that he asked for forgiveness from her and she could not understand why.”“Salman phoned Hashem’s phone on the day of the attack to talk with his family. The mother had refused to talk with him because they were angry with him as he lied,” Bin Salem said. “Hashem knew about the attack and convinced his mother to talk to him … he said ‘Please, please mum, talk to him’. [The mother] said during the investigation that he asked for forgiveness from her and she could not understand why.”
He said Tabba described her son as “an introvert, an anti-social person”.He said Tabba described her son as “an introvert, an anti-social person”.
Reuters is one of the few news agencies operating in Libya’s war-torn capital, and reporters have been unable to independently talk to the Abedis or verify their detention conditions.Reuters is one of the few news agencies operating in Libya’s war-torn capital, and reporters have been unable to independently talk to the Abedis or verify their detention conditions.
Rada has said UK consular officials visited Hashem and Ramadan Abedi, and a source in the region told the Guardian a UK embassy official met both men for about 10 minutes each last month to check on detention conditions. Britain evacuated its embassy when civil war broke out in July 2014 and diplomats make sporadic visits to the city.Rada has said UK consular officials visited Hashem and Ramadan Abedi, and a source in the region told the Guardian a UK embassy official met both men for about 10 minutes each last month to check on detention conditions. Britain evacuated its embassy when civil war broke out in July 2014 and diplomats make sporadic visits to the city.
Rada has said it is investigating any links between the Abedi family and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a militant organisation whose members fought in Afghanistan in the 1990s.Rada has said it is investigating any links between the Abedi family and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a militant organisation whose members fought in Afghanistan in the 1990s.