The brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi has been found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of the murder of the twenty two victims who died in May 2017.
During the course of a six week trial at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London, the jury heard compelling evidence of Hashem’s activities in the months leading up to the attack, which was carried out by his brother Salman on 22 May 2017.
These included persuading close acquaintances to purchase chemicals on his behalf that could be used to manufacture explosives, sourcing metal drums that were used to build bomb prototypes and buying a Nissan Micra that was used to store the bomb components back in Manchester whilst the brothers were in Libya.
Witnesses also gave evidence in court which suggested the brothers had developed an extremist mind-set. One witness stated in court that, in his opinion, Hashem ‘believed in terrorism’.
Prior to the events at the Manchester Arena, the brothers used three key addresses to prepare for the attack. A property on Lindum Street in Rusholme was used as a delivery address for the chemicals. The chemicals were subsequently taken to a flat on Somerton Court in Blackley where they were manufactured into explosives. The final version of the bomb would be built at a flat in Granby House in Manchester City Centre in the days prior to the attack.
After gathering all the materials needed to construct the final version of the device, Hashem and Salman flew to Libya to see family in 15 April 2017, the month before the attack took place. Whilst the brothers were out of the country, the bomb components were stored in a Nissan Micra that was parked near Devell House in Rusholme.
Hashem remained in Libya when his brother returned to the UK on 18 May 2017. Salman would then collect the components from the car in a blue suitcase before taking them to Granby House to finish the construction of the bomb.
On 22 May 2017, Salman Abedi entered the Manchester Arena and detonated the device that he and Hashem had created, killing himself and 22 other people, and injuring almost 1,000 members of the public.
Hashem was arrested in Libya the following day and successfully extradited to the UK on 17 July 2019.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson of Greater Manchester Police said: “Almost three years ago, Greater Manchester Police had to announce to the world that Manchester had suffered one of the worst terrorist attacks this country has ever experienced.
“Twenty-two lives had been suddenly and brutally taken in a barbaric act, leaving behind heartbroken families and friends. Their loss is sorely felt and, for many, the pain of that loss will never ever heal.
“There were also almost 1,000 people injured, some incredibly seriously and many still suffer with deep physical or psychological injuries which will remain with them for years, if not forever.
“Salman Abedi exploded the bomb which caused this devastation, but people now know that this horrific attack was planned with his brother, Hashem Abedi, who we now see convicted of the 22 murders and the attempted murder of all those others who were injured.
“Although he was in Libya at the time of the attack, Hashem Abedi is every bit as guilty as his dead brother and this is reflected in the judgment we see today. He was his brother’s driver, the quartermaster sourcing deadly material and the munitions technician in those months running up to the attack.
“During his police interview, he professed not only his innocence but his desire to help police with their enquiries before then refusing to answer all further questions put to him. Then at his trial, he offered no testimony in his own defence.
“In the last few weeks Abedi absented himself from court, such was the contempt he showed for the proceedings and all those so deeply affected by this cowardly act.
“We are very pleased at this verdict and we thank the jury for their deliberations.
“And so this verdict marks the end of a very long investigation by police and the CPS and we know many will welcome it, but we also know that even this will do little to ease the pain caused to so many people.
“When this happened almost three years ago it shook Manchester deeply, there was an outpouring of grief which spread across the country and far afield abroad.
“Since that terrible day, our thoughts have always been with the families of those murdered and all those injured and our actions have sought to put them first.
“This will continue to be our priority as we move towards the public inquiry scheduled to take place in a few months.”
I would like to thank the police force and security services for their patience and diligence in bringing Hashem Abedi back from Libya to face justice which was an extremely difficult task.
Paul Hett, the father of Martin Hett one of the twenty two victims said on the steps of Manchester Crown Court
I would like to thank the jury for their careful deliberations in reaching the correct verdict.
This verdict will not bring back the 22 victims murdered by Salman & Hashem Abedi, nor will it restore normality to the 22 families whose lives have been totally shattered by this murderous attack.
This verdict will not heal the wounds of the 264 people physically injured in the attack, many of whom have life changing injuries.
And this verdict will not help over 670 people who suffered psychological trauma after the attack, many still suffering today.
But what this verdict will do is give an overwhelming sense of justice to all those affected by this heinous crime.
