Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi admits helping plan Manchester Arena bombing for first time

7 December 2020, 11:48 | Updated: 7 December 2020, 12:37

Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi
Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi. Picture: PA

By Megan White

Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi has admitted for the first time his involvement in planning the Manchester Arena bombing which killed 22 people, a public inquiry has heard.

Abedi, 23, made the admission in prison last month while he was visited by two members of the inquiry's legal team to be interviewed as part of the probe into the atrocity on May 22 2017.

The brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, had pleaded not guilty earlier this year to 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

He did not give evidence at the Old Bailey but provided a pre-prepared defence statement in which he denied involvement, claimed to have been "shocked" by what his brother had done and said he did not hold extremist views.

He went on to be convicted by a jury of all the offences and was handed 24 life sentences in August with a minimum term of 55 years before he can be considered for parole.

Manchester Arena victim: Hashem Abedi 55 year sentence isn’t enough

On October 22 Abedi was interviewed in prison, where he admitted he played "a full and knowing part", the inquiry was told.

His admission was confirmed by Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Barraclough, of Greater Manchester Police, who was the senior investigating officer in the attack probe.

Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said to him: "You are aware, on October 22 this year, in prison serving his sentence, Hashem Abedi was interviewed by members of the inquiry legal team?"

Mr Barraclough said: "Yes, I am.

Mr Greaney said: "This will be news to others.

"You are aware, on October 22, during the course of that interview, Hashem Abedi admitted he had played a full part and a knowing part in the planning and preparation for the Arena attack?"

Mr Barraclough replied: "Yes, I think that's a fair summary."

How two brothers spent four months planning Manchester Arena bombing

The detective added that there is "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 Barraclough responded: "I think we had got there with the trial."

No other details of the prison interview were given.

Hashem Abedi travelled to Libya, where his parents were born, the month before the bombing and was arrested shortly after the attack and extradited to Britain last summer.

He was interviewed by detectives and refused to answer any questions, but gave a pre-prepared statement in which he denied any involvement in the plot.

He said he first became aware of the atrocity the day after and a few hours before he was arrested by Libyan militia forces.

Abedi said: "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.

"I was shocked my brother had done this and felt bad for everybody."

He added he was a practising Muslim who did not hold extremist views or support Isis.

Abedi did not give evidence at his trial, absented himself from much of the proceedings and sacked his legal team.

He also refused to attend his sentencing hearing, and last month it emerged he is being detained at County Durham's maximum-security Frankland Prison.

The Abedi brothers, from Fallowfield in south Manchester, spent months ordering, stockpiling and transporting the deadly materials for the terror attack, using multiple mobile phones, addresses and runaround vehicles to make their bomb.

They joined their parents in Libya the month before the blast, but Salman returned to the UK on May 18.

He bought the final components needed for the bomb, rented a flat in the city centre in which to build it and carried out reconnaissance on the Arena before finally executing the plot as fans departed from an Ariana Grande concert.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Relatives and loved ones of the Palestinian civil defense man who lost his life along with his wife mourn their bodies at Al-Awda Hospital as a result of the Israeli bombing of their home in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on May 25, 2025.

Last working hospital in North Gaza out of service after Israeli military orders evacuation

The immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab has been effective in the treatment of advanced head and neck cancers

Immunotherapy drug 'first breakthrough in 20 years' for head and neck cancer treatment

Used E-Cigarette

Disposable vapes banned from Sunday in bid to improve health and cut 'avalanche' of litter

EuroMillions - Photo Illustration

Lucky EuroMillions winner could snatch up £199m jackpot in UK record

Loretta Swit presents a tribute to 'Mr. Rogers' at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on April 29, 2018

M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit dies aged 87

The study is funded by the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, a charity set up in the name of the Girls Aloud singer who died of breast cancer aged 39

Study led by Sarah Harding's doctor could see NHS offer breast cancer checks to women in their thirties

Exclusive
A prison officer was stabbed with a weapon that may have been delivered to Long Lartin prison by a drone.

Prison officer stabbed with weapon 'likely sent in by drone', union chief tells LBC News as he warns 'it's a risk every shift'

White House AI Hack Triggers Global Security Fears as Voice-Cloning Threat Grows

White House AI voice-cloning hack spark security fears as deepfake of Trump's Chief of Staff triggers global alarm

Sanitation workers load rubbish into an automatic garbage truck in Long Island, New York

Man found dead 'buried under rubbish' after bin he was sleeping in was emptied into bin lorry

Chinese President Xi Jinpingmeets with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

China hits back at Trump after he accuses it of 'totally violating' tariff agreement

Trump has responded to a question from a reporter about the Macrons

‘Not good’: Trump responds to question about video of Macron being 'slapped across face' by wife Brigitte

Levi Bancroft, 22,  was sentenced on Friday, 30 May at Southwark Crown Court for four counts of rape involving three victims

Serial rapist, 22, who raped two 'vulnerable' teenage girls and a transgender woman sentenced to life in prison

Screengrab from CCTV footage showing Jay McGinty, 37, at the entrance to Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair.

Man caught trying to steal jewels worth £190k from Claridge’s Hotel using smoke grenades and sledgehammer jailed

Daily Life In Richmond Hill

Toxic pesticide linked to cancer discovered in tampons at levels 40 times above legal limit for drinking water

Exclusive
Lord Hermer and Sir Keir Starmer

'Out of touch': Attorney General slammed for comparing ECHR doubters to Nazis

Exclusive
The UK’s Oldest Man, Donald Rose aged 110, has been given the ‘Freedom of The Borough’ in Derbyshire.

UK’s oldest man given ‘Freedom of The Borough’ for service in World War 2