Arena bomber’s brother set for inquiry
THE elder brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi will be told he must give evidence at the public inquiry into the atrocity.
Ismail Abedi is refusing to co-operate with the probe, which is looking at how his two younger brothers, Salman and Hashem, became radicalised and planned the deadly bomb plot.
Images from devices recovered at Ismail’s home during a police raid the day after the bombing indicated he was “sympathetic to the ideals of Isis”, the inquiry heard.
He was arrested, held for 14 days and interviewed by detectives 25 times, but not charged with any offence. He denies any involvement.
He had refused to give a statement to the inquiry, claiming his legal privilege not to incriminate himself.
Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said Ismail, convicted terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah, and a friend of the Abedi brothers, Ahmed Taghdi, had all refused to co-operate.All three deny any knowledge of the bomb plot.
But Mr Greaney said he now expected them to be served with a legal notice from the inquiry chairman, retired High Court judge Sir John Saunders.
He said the notice “will require the attendance” of all three at the inquiry to give evidence in person in October.
Mr Greaney said there are “legitimate and important” questions for Ismail Abedi to answer “about the involvement of his brothers in the murders of 22 people”.
Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a home-made bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert at the arena on May 22 2017, killing 22. His brother Hashem was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 55 years for his part in the bomb plot.The inquiry continues.