Brother of Manchester bombers flees country before public inquiry
THE older brother of the Manchester Arena bombers who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert has left the UK just days before he was due to give evidence to a public inquiry.
Ismail Abedi, 28, had been ordered to reveal what he knew of their plans – but the hearing was told yesterday that he has disappeared.
‘He surely must understand the public might infer that he has something to hide,’ Paul Greaney QC told the inquiry.
Youngest brother Hashem Abedi was jailed for a record minimum of 55 years last year for his role in helping sibling Salman Abedi plan the 2017 suicide bombing.
Ismail Abedi was found with Islamic State propaganda and interviewed for nearly a fortnight by police after the attack which injured more than 1,000 people.
No charges were brought against him but the inquiry refused to grant him immunity from prosecution in exchange for his evidence. ‘It is highly regrettable that he has refused to provide a statement, or co-operate with the inquiry in any meaningful way,’ Mr Greaney said.
‘However, we understand he is currently not in the country and there is no indication as to when he will return.’ Mr Greaney also revealed that Salman Abedi’s childhood friend Ahmed Taghdi will appear tomorrow after being seized while trying to board a flight at Heathrow Airport on Sunday. Mr Taghdi, 29, who has not been charged with any offence, bought a Nissan Micra in which the bomb components and chemicals were stored. He was served with a High Court order to appear after ignoring a summons to give evidence last year. The inquiry will also hear tomorrow from convicted terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah who was visited in jail by Salman Abedi and Mr Taghdi before the attack.