Accused would’ve ‘reported’ brother

The brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi told police he would have “reported it to mother" had he suspected his sibling's murderous intent, a court heard.

Hashem Abedi said he had no involvement in the "instigation, preparation or commission" of the 2017 attack and was "shocked" when he discovered his older brother detonated the bomb - killing 22 and injuring hundreds of others at the Ariana Grande pop concert.

The dead included five from the North East.

They were; Chloe Rutherford, 17, and boyfriend Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields; Hartlepool-born Jane Tweddle, 51; and Philip Tron, 32, and his partner’s daughter Courtney Boyle, 19, from Gateshead.

Hashem Abedi, 22, was arrested in Libya the day after the atrocity before being sent back to the UK to face police questions amid prosecution claims he was complicit in sourcing and stockpiling components for the bomb.

He denies 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder encompassing the injured survivors, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

In a statement, read by prosecutor Duncan Penny QC, he said: "I deny any involvement in the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017. I was not involved in the instigation, preparation or commission of it.

"Had I had any idea of it I would have reported it to my mother initially and then to other family members to prevent it from happening.

"I was shocked my brother had done this and felt bad for everybody.”

The hearing continues.