Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber, has been relocated back to Belmarsh prison following a violent incident at HMP Frankland in County Durham. Abedi, aged 28, is serving a 55-year sentence for his role in the 2017 terror attack which resulted in the deaths of 22 people during an Ariana Grande concert. His recent actions have raised significant alarm amongst prison authorities.
Reports indicate that Abedi launched a premeditated assault on three prison officers using boiling cooking oil and makeshift blades crafted from baking trays. This attack occurred in the kitchen area of Frankland prison, where Abedi was allegedly able to act with little supervision due to a planned distraction created by other prisoners. Members of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) have stated that the assaulted officers sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack.
Upon his transfer back to Belmarsh, prison insiders disclosed that Abedi was provided with a plastic spork for eating, which has raised concerns among staff about the potential for further violent incidents. A prison expert noted that "sporks can be sharpened" and insisted that Abedi should not possess anything that could be used as a weapon given his history of violence.
In 2020, Abedi was involved in a previous attack within the prison system when he and two other inmates ambushed an officer, leading to a sentence extension of nearly four years. In order to manage the risk he poses, Abedi is now subjected to strict security protocols known as 'multi-unlock', which requires five officers to be present whenever his cell door is opened, in addition to a staff member in riot gear recording the interaction.
In response to the recent violence, the Ministry of Justice has temporarily halted kitchen access for inmates residing in specialist extremist wings at Frankland and HMP Woodhill. These wings were established to mitigate radicalisation among inmates considered dangerous ideologues.
The police are presently investigating the attack on the prison officers, with a full independent review anticipated to commence by the end of the week. There have also been suggestions that Abedi may have drawn influence from notorious Islamist extremist Anjem Choudary, who was previously housed at Frankland, although officials have characterised these speculations as unfounded.
Speaking to Times Radio, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson condemned the incident as "absolutely shocking," expressing support for the affected staff. The incident at Frankland coincides with another troubling event on the same day, when a riot broke out at HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottinghamshire, necessitating intervention from specialist prison response teams.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood also expressed her dismay regarding the recent attack on prison staff, affirming her commitment to pursuing the most severe penalties for violence against them. In the aftermath of the assault, families of the victims from the Manchester Arena bombing are reportedly calling for Abedi to be placed in permanent solitary confinement, reflecting their concerns over his continued presence in the prison system. Abedi, who was in Libya during his brother's bombing, has repeatedly denied defence against charges related to his involvement in the planning of the attack.
Source: Noah Wire Services