Glasto in grip of ‘bongo menace’
THE brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber told the Old Bailey he would have told their mother had he known of plans for the attack.
Hashem Abedi, accused of plotting the outrage with Salman, insisted he would have tried to stop him.
The home-made bomb, set off at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, killed 22 and injured 139.
In a statement read to the jury Abedi said: “I was shocked my brother had done this. Had I any idea of it I would have reported it to my mother and other family to prevent it.”
And he claimed: “During the last two years I have been held in Libya by the militia and subjected to torture. It has been a difficult time for me. I could never comprehend that my brother would have committed such a devastating attack.”
Abedi, 22, who denied being in Islamic State, was extradited last July from Libya, where his family lived. However he accepted he had asked people to buy sulphuric acid, a key ingredient for explosives, on behalf of his brother. The jury also saw chilling CCTV of Salman, 22, carrying a rucksack containing the bomb seconds before it exploded.
Abedi, from Manchester, denies murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. The trial continues.
BROTHERS Hashem and, right, Salman
A BONGO player has sparked fury by “taking over” the top of Glastonbury Tor.
An anonymous letter left by the Somerset hill hit out at the “selfish” drummer for disturbing “upset” visitors. It adds that the historic site’s “sacred silence” and “beautiful energies” are damaged by the bongoist’s “ego”.
Local Joe Smith, 30, who found the note, criticised the “bongo menace”, saying: “Everyone has a right to enjoy the sunset without some pretentious percussionist pounding away.”
PUPPY Lucky appears to raise an eyebrow – just like ex-James Bond star Roger Moore.
The Chihuahua crossbreed’s quizzical marking stole his owner’s heart.
Natnicha Namakprasert, 29, from Bangkok, Thailand, said: “The first time I saw his ‘eyebrow’ with his blue eyes, I thought he was amazing.”