Hashem Abedi: Libya extradites brother of Manchester Arena bomber to UK

Hashem Abedi: Libya extradites brother of Manchester Arena bomber to UK
Libya on Wednesday extradited the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, who attacked a concert in Manchester in May 2017 killing 22 people, back to the UK.
2 min read
17 July, 2019
Hashem Abedi was detained by Libyan forces shortly after the deadly attack in Manchester. [AFP]

Libya on Wednesday extradited to the UK the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, who attacked a concert in Manchester in May 2017 killing 22 people.

Hashem Abedi, who has been wanted by the UK since his brother carried out the deadly terrorist attack, was extradited following a court order, Libyan security officials told The New Arab.

Abedi was transferred from a prison at Mitiga International Airport and handed over to British authorities, the security officials added.

His Libyan citizenship has also been revoked.

Both Hashem, who was then 18-years-old, and the boys' father, Ramadan Abedi, were detained by Libyan forces shortly after the attack in Manchester.

UK members of parliament found last year that the M15 security service missed potential opportunities to prevent the bombing.

Hashem told investigators that both he and his brother belonged to the Islamic State group and that he knew about the attack, Tripoli-based militia group the Special Deterrence Force said at the time.

The father was not charged and was later released.

The arrest warrant for Hashem Abedi was issued by a Westminster Magistrates' Court judge and approved by the home secretary. Greater Manchester Police had no immediate comment.

Abedi was born in Manchester in 1994, after his parents fled Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya.

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