The brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi has been convicted of murdering 22 innocent people in Britain’s deadliest terror attack since the 7/7 London bombings. Hashem Abedi, 22, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of helping to orchestrate the devastating blast that killed children as young as eight at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.
The Manchester-born terrorist was convicted on all charges including 22 counts of murder, attempted murder encompassing 264 injured victims, and conspiracy to cause explosions. Jurors delivered unanimous verdicts after a seven-week trial that laid bare the brothers’ months-long plot to inflict maximum carnage on concert-goers.
Hashem showed contempt for justice by dismissing his legal team and refusing to attend court for the verdict. Some victims’ families burst into tears as guilty verdicts were read out in his absence.
Brothers “Stood Shoulder to Shoulder” in Evil Plot
Prosecutors revealed how the Abedi brothers spent months meticulously planning their attack, working together to source chemicals, buy screws and nails for shrapnel, and experiment with improvised bombs. Duncan Penny QC told the court the siblings had a “shared goal to kill, maim and injure as many people as possible.”
The brothers used 11 mobile phones in five months, some for as little as two hours, to evade detection. They transported bomb components around Manchester using various vehicles despite neither passing their driving test.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Barraclough said Hashem was “with his brother throughout the entire process” of building the device. He revealed Hashem took a four-minute phone call from Salman on the night of the attack, providing “last-minute inspiration” before the bombing.
“These two brothers are literally hand in glove in this process,” Det Ch Supt Barraclough said. “This was all about the sick ideology of Islamic State and this desire for martyrdom.”
Victims’ Families Find Justice But Not Closure
Paul Hett, whose 29-year-old son Martyn was murdered in the blast, said the verdict provided “an overwhelming sense of justice to all those affected by this heinous crime.” However, he acknowledged it would not bring back the 22 victims or heal the wounds of the 264 physically injured and over 670 suffering psychological trauma.
Figen Murray, Martyn’s mother, said while the verdict brought her “comfort to know the British justice system has played its role…it doesn’t give us closure.”
Twenty-two men, women and children aged between eight and 51 died in the attack. Seven were children, with the youngest victim just eight years old. The bombing also left 237 people injured and destroyed the arena’s foyer.
Victoria Higgins, representing 11 bereaved families, said they were relieved the “calculating” killer had finally been brought to justice. “Families have waited a long time to see Hashem Abedi face justice for his crimes,” she said.
Libya Extradition After Two-Year Legal Battle
Hashem fled to Libya a month before the attack, leaving his brother to carry out the suicide bombing alone. He was detained by Libyan militia the day after the attack and claimed he was subjected to torture during his detention.
British authorities fought for nearly two years to secure his extradition, which was complicated by Libya’s political instability. He was finally flown back to Britain on 17 July 2019 under heavy security.
Upon arrival, Hashem told police he was “relieved to be back in the UK” and wished to “assist in this investigation as much as I can.” He then refused to answer any questions during police interviews, offering only “no comment” responses.
Trail of Evidence Led to Conviction
Police found Hashem’s fingerprints at key addresses used to prepare the attack, including a flat where the bomb was assembled. Traces of explosives were discovered in a Nissan Micra the brothers used to store bomb components.
The court heard how Hashem persuaded acquaintances to purchase chemicals for making explosives, telling them it was for a car battery. He bought nails and screws at a B&Q store, claiming they were to “do the shed up.”
The brothers experimented with bomb construction at their family home in Fallowfield before using addresses in Rusholme, Blackley and Manchester city centre to prepare their device. Metal drums sourced by Hashem were used to build prototype bombs.
One witness testified that in his opinion, Hashem “believed in terrorism.” The former Manchester College electrical installation student had worked various menial jobs before leaving for Libya, with one employer describing him as “unreliable” with “the wrong idea of Islam.”
Longest Minimum Sentence in British Legal History
Hashem Abedi was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years – the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court. Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 at the time of the offence.
The judge said the brothers were motivated to “advance the ideology of Islamism, a matter distinct to and abhorrent to the vast majority for those who follow the Islamic faith.”
Since his imprisonment, Hashem has shown no remorse and continued his violent behaviour. In April 2025, he attacked prison officers at HMP Frankland by throwing hot cooking oil on them and stabbing them with makeshift weapons, prompting families of five victims to call for him to be placed in permanent solitary confinement.
MI5 Failures and Ongoing Inquiries
A 2023 public inquiry found that MI5 had missed opportunities to prevent the attack, with the security service admitting it acted too slowly in dealing with Salman Abedi. The bomber had come to MI5’s attention 18 times over seven years before the attack.
In an unprecedented move, 250 survivors and victims’ families are now suing MI5 for negligence, claiming breaches of their “right to life” under the Human Rights Act. The legal action threatens to unravel what critics call a state cover-up of intelligence failures.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins described the Abedi brothers as “cowardly and calculating murderers” who tried to divide society. “But they failed to do that because actually what that atrocity did do, as painful as it was for those that lost their loved ones and those injured, it brought everybody together,” he said.
A public inquiry into the bombing continues, with many questions remaining about how the brothers were able to plot their attack despite being known to authorities. The case has prompted a major review of counter-terrorism procedures and the formation of the Commission for Countering Extremism.
For those affected by the Manchester Arena attack, support remains available through Victim Support’s confidential 24-hour helpline on 08 08 16 89 111.
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