Hashem Abedi, who helped carry out the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert, has now been charged with three counts of attempted murder after allegedly attacking prison officers.
Abedi, 28, was sentenced in 2020 to at least 55 years in prison for helping his brother plan the suicide attack. He is accused of attacking four guards at the high-security HMP Frankland prison on April 11, according to The Guardian. Three officers were seriously injured and hospitalized. Abedi also faces a charge for having a knife without permission. Reports say the attack involved makeshift blades and hot cooking oil.
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Following the incident, Abedi was moved to another prison. He will be prosecuted under the U.K.’s counterterrorism rules, which allow prosecutors to argue that the attack was motivated by terrorism.
Authorities, including Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Durham Constabulary, and prison officials, conducted a full investigation. The Ministry of Justice also announced an independent review, though some survivors and families criticized this decision, according to the BBC.
Abedi is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 18.
Hashem’s older brother, Salman Abedi, carried out the 2017 bombing, killing 22 people and injuring more than 1,000. The brothers spent months preparing the explosives, according to BBC reports. During the trial, Judge Jeremy Baker said Hashem was “just as guilty” as Salman, who died in the attack.
In March 2020, Hashem Abedi was charged with 22 counts of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to cause explosions.
