The brother of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi is being extradited to the UK to face trial over his alleged involvement in the attack.
It is alleged that Hashem knew about the attack and took a final phone call from his brother hours before the attack that killed 22.
He was handed over by Libyan authorities to British police officers this morning. They escorted him on the flight back and he landed in the UK a short while ago.
Greater Manchester Police officers have arrested Hashem Abedi for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
He will be transferred to a police custody facility in London.
Previously the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge of Hashem Abedi in respect of the murder of the 22 deceased victims, attempted murder of persons other than the 22 deceased victims and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life
After processing at the police station, he will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in relation to these charges.
Greater Manchester’s Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said
I want to thank all those involved for their commitment to this investigation and the successful extradition of Hashem Abedi.
We do understand that there has been a huge appetite for updates in relation to the extradition. We are pleased that we can now explain the progress that has been made.
It is important to allow the judicial process to take place and we would ask media colleagues and the wider public to respect this.
Earlier Libyan authorities confirmed the extradition was taking place.
“I confirm you 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 is extradited in accordance to a court verdict, he added.
Greater Manchester Police applied to the Libyan authorities to arrest Hashem Abedi last year.
Both brothers had travelled to Libya in April, a month before the attack, with Salman returning alone to Britain before carrying out the attack a month later.
