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Manchester Arena bomber's brother Hashem Abedi admits involvement | Manchester Arena bomber's brother Hashem Abedi admits involvement |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Top row (left to right): Alison Howe, Martyn Hett, Lisa Lees, Courtney Boyle, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Georgina Callander, Jane Tweddle - Middle row (left to right): John Atkinson, Kelly Brewster, Liam Curry, Chloe Rutherford, Marcin Klis, Angelika Klis, Megan Hurley, Michelle Kiss - Bottom row (left to right): Nell Jones, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Philip Tron, Saffie-Rose Roussos, Sorrel Leczkowski, Wendy Fawell | Top row (left to right): Alison Howe, Martyn Hett, Lisa Lees, Courtney Boyle, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Georgina Callander, Jane Tweddle - Middle row (left to right): John Atkinson, Kelly Brewster, Liam Curry, Chloe Rutherford, Marcin Klis, Angelika Klis, Megan Hurley, Michelle Kiss - Bottom row (left to right): Nell Jones, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Philip Tron, Saffie-Rose Roussos, Sorrel Leczkowski, Wendy Fawell |
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has admitted his involvement in planning the attack for the first time. | The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has admitted his involvement in planning the attack for the first time. |
Hashem Abedi, 23, was jailed for murdering the 22 people who were killed in the bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. | |
During his trial, Hashem denied helping his brother Salman, 22, plan the attack that also left hundreds more injured. | During his trial, Hashem denied helping his brother Salman, 22, plan the attack that also left hundreds more injured. |
But a public inquiry into the bombing heard Hashem Abedi had made the admission in prison in October. | But a public inquiry into the bombing heard Hashem Abedi had made the admission in prison in October. |
During an interview with inquiry lawyers, he admitted he had "played a full part and a knowing part in the planning and preparation for the arena attack", in which his brother also died, a court heard. | |
Figen Murray, whose son Martyn, 29, was killed in the bombing, said "it would have been more bearable for all of us if he told the truth" during the trial. | |
"We wanted to put that chapter behind us but focus our energies on the inquiry which continues to be a gruelling and long process," she added. | |
Abedi's admission was confirmed to the inquiry by Det Ch Supt Simon Barraclough, from Greater Manchester Police, who was the senior investigating officer on the case. | |
What is the Manchester Arena inquiry? | What is the Manchester Arena inquiry? |
Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said to him: "You are aware, on 22 October this year, in prison serving his sentence, Hashem Abedi was interviewed by members of the inquiry legal team?" | Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said to him: "You are aware, on 22 October this year, in prison serving his sentence, Hashem Abedi was interviewed by members of the inquiry legal team?" |
Mr Barraclough told the inquiry he knew of the admission during the interview and agreed it was a "fair summary" to say 23-year-old Abedi admitted he had played "a full part and a knowing part". | |
Hashem Abedi is serving a minimum prison term of 55 years | Hashem Abedi is serving a minimum prison term of 55 years |
The detective added that there was "no doubt in my mind" that the prosecution of Abedi was "entirely well founded". | The detective added that there was "no doubt in my mind" that the prosecution of Abedi was "entirely well founded". |
Mr Greaney said: "So the point you are making is that it didn't need him to tell you that you had got it right?" | Mr Greaney said: "So the point you are making is that it didn't need him to tell you that you had got it right?" |
Mr Barraclough responded: "I think we had got there with the trial." | Mr Barraclough responded: "I think we had got there with the trial." |
No further details of the prison interview were provided. | No further details of the prison interview were provided. |
The court heard how the brothers spent months ordering, stockpiling and transporting the materials required for the attack. | The court heard how the brothers spent months ordering, stockpiling and transporting the materials required for the attack. |
They joined their parents in Libya the month before the blast, but Salman Abedi returned to the UK on 18 May. | They joined their parents in Libya the month before the blast, but Salman Abedi returned to the UK on 18 May. |
He bought the final components needed for the bomb before carrying out the attack as fans left the arena on the evening of 22 May 2017. | He bought the final components needed for the bomb before carrying out the attack as fans left the arena on the evening of 22 May 2017. |
Salman Abedi in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, seconds before he blew himself up | Salman Abedi in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, seconds before he blew himself up |
Abedi was arrested shortly afterwards and extradited to Britain. | |
He did not give evidence during his trial, providing only a statement in which he denied 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. | He did not give evidence during his trial, providing only a statement in which he denied 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. |
Abedi originally claimed he did not hold extremist views and had been "shocked" by what his brother had done. | Abedi originally claimed he did not hold extremist views and had been "shocked" by what his brother had done. |
"Had I any idea of it I would have reported it to my mother initially and then to other family members to prevent it from happening," he said in his statement. | "Had I any idea of it I would have reported it to my mother initially and then to other family members to prevent it from happening," he said in his statement. |
But Abedi, formerly of Fallowfield, Manchester, was convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey and jailed for life in August with a minimum term of 55 years. | But Abedi, formerly of Fallowfield, Manchester, was convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey and jailed for life in August with a minimum term of 55 years. |
The Manchester Arena inquiry, which is being chaired by Sir John Saunders, started in September and is expected to last until the spring. | The Manchester Arena inquiry, which is being chaired by Sir John Saunders, started in September and is expected to last until the spring. |
It aims to explore the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the attack and whether it could have been prevented. | It aims to explore the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the attack and whether it could have been prevented. |
The inquiry is being held at Manchester Magistrates' Court, less than a mile away from where the bombing happened. | The inquiry is being held at Manchester Magistrates' Court, less than a mile away from where the bombing happened. |
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