Arena bomber’s brother refuses to appear in court over prison officers attack

Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber’s brother who is serving a life sentence for aiding his sibling in the 2017 attack, refused to leave his cell to appear in court on charges tied to an alleged terrorist assault on prison officers. The hearing, scheduled at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, was to be held by video link from HMP Belmarsh in London, but Abedi declined to attend and also did not accept legal representation, prompting an adjournment.

Three prison officers were injured during the incident at HMP Frankland in County Durham, two of them with stab wounds. Prosecutors have said the offences are being treated as having a terrorist motivation. Abedi, 28, faces three counts of attempted murder, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one count of possessing a knife. The court heard that he has refused to leave his cell and insisted on not engaging with the proceedings or legal counsel.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said he had no power to compel attendance in the defendant’s absence and adjourned the hearing until 25 September. He added that he would ensure the defendant is physically produced for the next hearing, but if that is not possible, the matter will proceed via prison videolink.

The attack at Frankland, a high-security prison in County Durham, is alleged to involve makeshift blades and the throwing of boiling liquid at officers. The Prison Officers Association described the incident as unprovoked and vicious, with staff suffering life-threatening injuries, burns, scalds, and stab wounds as a result of the assault.

Abedi’s involvement with the Manchester Arena bombing is a matter of ongoing prosecutorial and judicial focus. He was convicted in August 2020 of aiding his brother Salman Abedi in planning and carrying out the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, which killed 22 people and injured hundreds more. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 55 years and has remained in custody since.

The current charges stem from another alleged act of violence while Abedi was incarcerated. Prosecutors have described the case as a serious, terrorism-related offense, noting that it involves threats or attempts to cause harm to prison staff, within a context already dominated by national security concerns surrounding extremist violence in the United Kingdom. The adjournment leaves open the possibility of another court appearance later this month, either in person or by video link, as authorities continue to pursue the case against Abedi and the related allegations against him.

The wider backdrop to the proceedings is a continuing focus on radicalization and the security of correctional facilities in the United Kingdom. Officials have emphasized the importance of ensuring that those accused of terrorism-related offenses face timely, fair court proceedings while maintaining stringent security measures in prisons. As the legal process unfolds, authorities aim to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the alleged attack at Frankland and to determine accountability for the injuries sustained by the officers involved.