Arena bomb plotter denies jail attack

MANCHESTER ARENA plotter Hashem Abedi has denied assaulting a prison officer at Belmarsh, telling a court: “I did assault that filthy pig, but I don’t see any harm in doing that.”

Abedi, who conspired with his brother Salman over the 2017 atrocity in which 22 people died including five from Yorkshire, entered a not guilty plea to assaulting Belmarsh prison officer Paul Edwards.

He also denied assaulting a second member of staff, during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Abedi, appearing via video link from HMP Frankland in County Durham on his 24th birthday, was making his first public appearance in more than a year since refusing to attend the final weeks of his Manchester bombing murder trial at the Old Bailey a year ago.

Asked to enter a plea to the first charge, Abedi, wearing a black, green and white zip-up jacket and with his hair grown out, said: “I did assault that filthy pig, but I don’t see any harm in doing that.”

He added: “This is my plea.” Asked to enter a plea on the second charge, Abedi said: “Same as before.”

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring formally recorded not guilty pleas.

Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan, who also appeared in court, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Edwards.

Abedi was found guilty by a jury in March last year of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life over the 2017 Manchester Arena bomb attack.

He could die behind bars after being given 24 life sentences with a minimum term of 55 years before he can be considered for parole.