Dec 2020. Manchester Attack

The imprisoned terrorist Hashem Abedi, 23, has admitted for the first time his involvement in planning the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, a public inquiry has heard. Abedi, 23, the brother of the suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, made the admission in prison in October while being interviewed by two members of the legal team for the inquiry into the atrocity on 22 May 2017. Abedi 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 that was a practising Muslim who did not hold extremist views. In the statement, he added: “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.”