Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomb plotter serving life for murdering 22 people, appeared in court today charged with attempting to murder prison officers in a violent attack at one of Britain’s most secure jails. The 28-year-old faced Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video link on Thursday, September 18, accused of attacking four guards at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
The terrorist, who helped his brother Salman plan and execute the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 innocent people including seven children, faces three counts of attempted murder following the alleged incident on April 12. He is also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unauthorised possession of a knife or offensive weapon in prison.
Counter Terrorism Policing North East confirmed they conducted a “thorough investigation” alongside Durham Constabulary and HMP Frankland authorities into the alleged attack, which left three officers hospitalised with serious injuries. The incident reportedly involved Abedi throwing hot cooking oil over prison staff and stabbing them with homemade weapons whilst working in the prison kitchen.
Pattern of Violence Behind Bars
The charges mark the latest in a string of violent incidents involving Abedi since his imprisonment. The convicted terrorist has already had his sentence extended after attacking prison officers at London’s high-security Belmarsh prison in May 2020, where he and fellow inmate Muhammed Saeed assaulted officer Paul Edwards in his office.
During that attack, Parsons Green bomber Ahmed Hassan joined the assault when a second guard arrived to help. In May 2022, all three were found guilty, with Abedi receiving an additional three years and ten months on his already substantial sentence. Following the Belmarsh incident, Abedi was transferred to HMP Frankland, nicknamed “Monster Mansion” due to its population of dangerous offenders.
The Prison Officers’ Association reported that the April incident involved Abedi using “homemade weapons” to attack staff members. Following the alleged assault, authorities moved him from Frankland’s separation centre to another high-security facility at HMP Full Sutton. The attack prompted immediate security reviews, with high-security unit inmates subsequently barred from working in prison kitchens.
Families Express “Absolute Disbelief”
The families of five Manchester Arena victims have written to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressing their “absolute disbelief” that Abedi was able to attack prison officers. The relatives of Megan Hurley, Eilidh MacLeod, Chloe Rutherford, Liam Curry and Kelly Brewster stated they found the situation “beyond comprehension.”
“As the families of our beautiful, beloved children who were so tragically murdered along with 16 others in the Manchester Arena terror attack in May 2017, we find this situation beyond comprehension,” the families wrote. They questioned how “the evil Hashem Abedi has been allowed to cause danger to life” once again.
The families’ intervention highlights ongoing concerns about the management of convicted terrorists within the prison system and the safety of staff working with extremely dangerous offenders. Their letter emphasised the continuing trauma caused by Abedi’s actions, both past and present.
The Manchester Arena Atrocity
Hashem Abedi was convicted in March 2020 of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life. He received a minimum sentence of 55 years in August 2020 for his role in helping his brother Salman plan and prepare the devastating suicide bombing at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017.
The attack, which targeted young fans leaving an Ariana Grande concert, killed 22 people and injured more than 1,000 others. The youngest victim was eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos. The bombing represented the deadliest terrorist attack in Britain since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
During his trial at the Old Bailey, the court heard how Hashem had been instrumental in sourcing materials for the bomb, including purchasing chemicals through unwitting associates and acquiring metal drums for prototype devices. He also bought the Nissan Micra used to store bomb components whilst the brothers visited Libya in the month before the attack.
Security Concerns at HMP Frankland
HMP Frankland, located near Durham, houses some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals and terrorists. Recent investigations have raised serious concerns about gang activity and radicalisation within the facility. A 2025 Times investigation revealed that prisoners who refused to convert to Islam or join Islamic gangs were being placed in isolation for their own protection.
The report suggested that measures designed to prevent imprisoned terrorists from radicalising other inmates had become ineffective due to the sheer numbers involved in gang activity. Prison staff allegedly struggled to assert authority, with some reportedly hesitant to intervene due to fears of being labelled racist or culturally insensitive.
Steve Gallant, a former Frankland inmate who famously intervened to stop the 2019 London Bridge attack, supported these claims, stating that the balance of power had shifted to Islamist gangs within the prison. The Prison Service has denied these allegations, maintaining that appropriate security measures remain in place.
Missed Opportunities and Intelligence Failures
The Manchester Arena Inquiry, which concluded in 2023, revealed that MI5 had missed a “significant” opportunity to prevent the bombing. The security service had received intelligence about Salman Abedi that might have led to actions preventing the attack had it been acted upon more quickly.
Sir John Saunders, who chaired the inquiry, found that “actionable intelligence” could have been obtained if not for failures within the security services. MI5 Director General Ken McCallum issued a rare public apology to victims’ families, expressing being “profoundly sorry” that such intelligence was not obtained.
The inquiry revealed that Salman Abedi had come to MI5’s attention 18 times over seven years before the bombing. The FBI had also warned British intelligence five months prior that Abedi was planning a terrorist attack, yet he was not prevented from carrying out his heinous crime.
Legal Proceedings Continue
Today’s court appearance represents the first stage in what is likely to be a lengthy legal process. Abedi appeared via video link from custody, a standard security measure for high-risk terrorism offenders. The case has been transferred to the Crown Court system where more serious criminal matters are heard.
If convicted on all charges, Abedi could face additional years added to his current minimum 55-year sentence. The attempted murder charges alone carry potential life sentences, whilst possession of an offensive weapon in prison is also a serious offence that typically results in consecutive sentencing.
The Crown Prosecution Service will need to prove that Abedi intended to kill the prison officers during the alleged attack. The prosecution is expected to rely on witness testimony from prison staff, CCTV footage from the facility, and forensic evidence relating to the weapons allegedly used.
Abedi’s history of refusing to engage with legal proceedings was evident during his original trial, where he absented himself from court proceedings and offered no testimony in his own defence. During police interviews following his extradition from Libya in 2019, he initially professed innocence and offered to help investigators before refusing to answer any further questions.
The case has reignited debates about the management of convicted terrorists in British prisons and the safety of prison staff working in high-security environments. Questions remain about how inmates in separation units can access materials to create weapons and why vulnerable positions like prison kitchens remain accessible to dangerous offenders.
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