Manchester bomber’s brother claims he was tortured in Libya

THE brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber has denied knowledge of the atrocity and claimed he was tortured in Libya before being extradited back to the UK.

Hashem Abedi, 22, was arrested in Tripoli the day after the May 2017 bombing and held until he was sent back to Britain last year and charged with helping to plan the attack.

In a statement to police following his arrest which was read yesterday at the Old Bailey, where he is charged with 22 murders, Mr Abedi said he had no involvement in the instigation, preparation or commission of the bombing.

He told officers: “During the last two years I have been held in Libya by the militia and subjected to torture.

“I could never comprehend that my brother would have committed such a devastating attack, taking not only his own life but that of 22 others and injuring many more. I have been held in a very small dark cell for two years and almost two months. I have also been tortured. I am relieved to be back in the UK and wish to assist in this investigation as much as I can.”

Mr Abedi told police that if he had known what his brother was planning he would have told his mother.

He said he was “shocked” when he discovered that his elder brother had detonated his suicide bomb, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more during an Ariana Grande pop concert.

Hashem had declined to answer detectives’ questions but instead had issued the prepared statement through his solicitor.

He accepted that he had asked various individuals to buy sulphuric acid, a key ingredient for explosives, on behalf of his brother, but denied knowing what Salman was planning.

The defendant, now aged 22 and originally from Manchester, denies the murder of 22 men, women and children aged eight to 51. He also denies attempted murder and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

The trail continues.