Bomber’s brother wanted on warrant for murder

THE BROTHER of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber remains wanted for murder as the extradition process continues.

Plans to put Hashem Abedi on trial in the UK are under way, according to the head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police.

Speaking to reporters last week, Mr Jackson would not be drawn on the progress of the extradition application made more than six months ago to Libya, where Hashem Abedi is currently in custody.

But as a team of about 100 investigators continue to work full time on the live murder investigation, he said: “We are preparing for a trial.”

Both brothers travelled to Libya in April 2017. Salman, 22, returned alone before carrying out the attack on May 22 which left 22 dead and hundreds injured including a number from Yorkshire.

The youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl.

Hashem Abedi, 21, is understood to be held by a militia group in Libya.

A warrant for his arrest in relation to questioning over allegations of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion was also issued before the extradition bid on November 1 last year. Mr Jackson told reporters that it was “really difficult” to provide any further detail of the extradition process. It means inquests into the deaths of both Salman Abedi and his 22 victims will be delayed, pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Police chiefs also revealed the sheer scale of their investigation into last year’s Manchester Arena bomb attack. During the investigation: ■ More than 10,000 individual tasks have been allocated to officers and staff.

■ 9,600 documents have been created.

■ More than 7,000 people have been referenced in the inquiry.

■ More than 13,000 exhibits have been seized.

■ More than 2,000 witness statements have been taken.

■ Twenty-three people have been arrested.

■ 30 addresses have been searched.

■ About 16 terabytes of data are being examined.

■ More than 8m lines of telephone communications data have been gathered.

■ 11,000 tonnes of rubbish has been examined at a landfill site at Bury.

Mr Jackson said: “The events of May 22 will forever be etched into the history of Manchester.

“The attack caused huge loss of life and devastated the lives of so many. We knew quickly that 22 people had been murdered and we now know that there are over 800 people with physical and deep psychological injuries from the attack. Their lives have been altered forever.

“Over the past year, the investigation team has worked hard to support those affected and we are consistently moved by the grace and dignity they show in trying to repair their lives.

“Of course for many, the loss is too great for them to ever make a full recovery from this terrible event.

“After the initial surge of officers we had during the first few weeks, we have since sustained a team of around 100 investigators working full-time on this investigation. They have been interviewing witnesses, painstakingly working through thousands of hours of CCTV and considering forensic material.” PAINSTAKING INQUIRY: Head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson.

Around 100 investigators are working full-time on this investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police.