Arena bomber's brother convicted of failing to appear at inquiry

Ismail Abedi, the elder brother of the Manchester Arena attacker has been convicted of failing to appear at a public inquiry he had been ordered to attend.

Salman Abedi detonated a bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds. The younger brother of the pair, Hashem Abedi was convicted of murdering all those who died and was jailed two years ago.

Abedi has refused to answer questions from the inquiry to avoid incriminating himself.

Sir John Saunders, chair of the inquiry had rejected this position and demanded Abedi appear as a witness. Abedi was asked to provide a witness statement in May 2020 and 39 topic areas were identified, however, he responded in writing saying he would not provide a witness statement "because I am concerned about the risk of self-incrimination".

After being informed that failure to comply was a criminal offence, he replied: "I do not wish to answer the questions", asserting his wish to claim privilege against self-incrimination.

It was pointed out to him that such privilege could only be claimed on a question-by-question basis, not in blanket form. Abedi then asked for immunity from prosecution from the Attorney General before he would agree to give evidence, but this was refused. A formal notice was issued requiring Abedi to attend the inquiry on 21 October 2021.

Abedi fled the UK last year and has not returned since. He was convicted at Manchester Magistrates' Court of failing to comply with a legal notice to attend the Manchester Arena inquiry as a witness.

District Judge Jack McGarva said "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he has no reasonable excuse for not attending" and "he is guilty of the offence as charged".

The judge said he could not issue an arrest warrant on Thursday and adjourned the hearing until 2 August. Mr McGarva continued, saying that if Ismail Abedi fails to attend in August, an arrest warrant could be issued and he would then be "posted as wanted" by international policing bodies. Nicholas de la Poer QC, prosecuting, said earlier that Abedi's "failure to attend was deliberate".

He continued: "The defendant from the first was determined not to cooperate with the Inquiry. He has prevaricated and he has obfuscated. "He has thrown up every obstacle he could think of. When those failed, he fled the jurisdiction."

In August last year, Abedi was questioned by police at Manchester Airport under counter terror laws, while attempting to leave the country. He was released after saying he would come back in September. However, he was able to fly out of the UK and has not returned. Despite knowing he was formally required as a witness, police did not inform the inquiry of Abedi's movements.

Mr de la Poer said: "As a person who lived with Salman Abedi during the period running up to the attack, and as his older brother, the defendant was uniquely well placed to provide an insight into understanding how Salman Abedi came to be radicalised."

The inquiry has already heard that Ismail Abedi's DNA was found on an item in a car used by Salman and Hashem Abedi to store explosives and also that he was in possession of extremist material.

Ismail Abedi now uses the name Ben Romdhan.

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