Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Clear evidence’ to charge Manchester bomber’s bro
Fans told ‘be vigilant’ over fear of football terror bid
THERE is “clear evidence” to charge the Manchester Arena bomber’s brother in connection with the atrocity, police have announced.
It is suspected that Hashem Abedi, 21, helped his brother Salman Abedi, 22, kill 22 people leaving a concert in May last year.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “There is clearly evidence to charge him, which is why the CPS issued the warrant and has started extradition proceedings.”
Mr Hopkins did not go into detail about the evidence, but it is understood Hashem helped buy materials for the bomb.
He is currently being held by militia in Tripoli in a prison for Islamic State suspects, which houses about 250 people.
Hashem, from Fallowfield, Manchester, was arrested a day FOOTBALL fans are urged to be vigilant amid fears terrorists could target stadiums as the Premier League season kicks off tonight.
The call is part of efforts to encourage the public to be “counter-terror citizens”.
Chief Supt Nick Aldworth, national police co-ordinator for protective security, emphasised there is no specific threat to football grounds.
But he cited blasts by the Stade de France in Paris in 2015 and the Manchester Arena attack last year as proof stadiums are at risk.
He said: “We know they are interested in attacking crowded places generally.”
The warning comes after four UK terror attacks last year.
Officers have worked with the Premier League, the English
Football League and at a remote Libyan farmhouse the day after the bombing.
His extradition was requested in October, but a legal wrangle over whether he is British or Libyan may be delaying it.
The Home Office said the extradition case was ongoing. individual clubs to enhance security and raise awareness of the terror threat. Nearly a quarter of a million sports event stewards have been given a guide on protecting crowds of spectators. Mr Aldworth said: “A lot of places will have very overt security. But there will be quite a lot of security people won’t see.” He said of fans: “We want them to think about what they might do in an attack and be really, really vigilant.
“And not to be inhibited about reporting stuff. If it’s trivial to you, it might be significant to us.”
Earlier this year, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the top anti-terror police officer, called for “every good citizen to be a counter-terrorism citizen”. Mr Aldworth said the latest campaign continues that message.