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Brother of Manchester Arena bomber being extradited to UK Manchester Arena bomber's brother held in UK after extradition
(about 3 hours later)
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi, is being extradited to the UK, according to police in Libya. The brother of the Manchester Arena terrorist Salman Abedi is in police custody after being extradited from Libya to the UK to face court over his alleged role in the 2017 attack.
Hashem Abedi, 20, was arrested in Libya shortly after his older brother blew himself up at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017, killing 22 people. Hashem Abedi landed at an unspecified London airport on Wednesday, escorted by British police officers, after months of work to ensure his extradition to the UK.
Greater Manchester police said counter-terrorism officers had been granted a warrant for Hashem’s arrest and that the Libyan authorities were asked last year to consider extraditing him to the UK. Abedi left the UK in the days before his older brother Salman carried out his suicide bombing as thousands of pop music fans left the Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.
They believe they have enough evidence to charge him with the murder of 22 people, the attempted murder of others who were injured, and conspiracy to cause an explosion. Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service successfully applied for the extradition of Hashem Abedi from Libya and today he has been extradited for offences relating to the Manchester Arena attack.
“I confirm that Hashem [Abedi] is now in the air on his way to the UK,” said a spokesman for the Tripoli-based special deterrence force (Rada). “He was handed over by Libyan authorities to British police officers this morning.
“He is extradited in accordance to a court verdict,” he added. “They escorted him on the flight back and they landed in the United Kingdom a short while ago.”
He said the CPS had previously authorised the charge of Hashem Abedi in respect of the murder of the 22 victims, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
He remains in custody at a London police station.
The security minister, Ben Wallace, said: “I am pleased that the extradition of Hashem Abedi to the UK has been completed.
“It has been a huge effort by the police, Foreign Office and Home Office to ensure that the law can take its course.
“My thanks to the Libyan authorities for their support.
“Today my thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester Arena attacks and I can assure them that we will not rest until justice is done.”
Abedi was being held by a militia group in Libya, which has been ravaged by civil war. A photograph of him was released inside the Tripoli-based special deterrence force anti-terrorism unit after his detention on 24 May 2017.Abedi was being held by a militia group in Libya, which has been ravaged by civil war. A photograph of him was released inside the Tripoli-based special deterrence force anti-terrorism unit after his detention on 24 May 2017.
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