Manchester Arena Bomb Plotter Faces New Charges for Prison Attack
Published 13 August 2025
Highlights
- Hashem Abedi, convicted for the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, faces new charges for attempting to murder three prison officers.
- The attack occurred on 11 April at HMP Frankland, involving makeshift knives and hot cooking oil.
- Abedi is charged with five offences, including unauthorised possession of a knife, under terrorism protocols.
- A thorough investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East and Durham Constabulary led to these charges.
- The Ministry of Justice has announced an independent review of the incident, raising concerns about prison security.
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Rewritten Article
Manchester Arena Bomb Plotter Faces New Charges for Prison Attack
Hashem Abedi, already serving a lengthy sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, now faces fresh charges related to a violent incident at a high-security prison. Abedi, 28, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder following an attack on prison officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham on 11 April.
Details of the Incident
The attack, which took place in a separation unit of the prison, involved the use of makeshift knives and hot cooking oil, resulting in serious injuries to three officers who required hospital treatment. A fourth officer was also assaulted during the incident. Abedi, who was moved from HMP Frankland following the attack, is additionally charged with unauthorised possession of a knife.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Abedi, who was sentenced to a minimum of 55 years in 2020 for aiding his brother Salman Abedi in the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, is being prosecuted under terrorism protocols. This indicates that prosecutors believe the prison attack had a terrorist motivation. The charges were brought following a comprehensive investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, in collaboration with Durham Constabulary and prison authorities.
Response and Review
The Ministry of Justice has announced a full, independent review of the incident, which has sparked criticism from survivors and victims' families of the Manchester bombing. Concerns have been raised about the security measures in place at HMP Frankland, particularly regarding prisoner access to potentially dangerous items like cooking oil.
Abedi is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 September. His nationality has been confirmed as British, with his ethnicity self-defined as Asian.
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Scenario Analysis
The charges against Hashem Abedi could lead to a significant extension of his current prison sentence if he is found guilty. The case also highlights ongoing concerns about security within high-security prisons, particularly regarding the management of inmates with a history of terrorism-related offences. The independent review by the Ministry of Justice may lead to changes in prison protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, the case underscores the complexities involved in managing individuals convicted of terrorism, raising questions about rehabilitation and the potential for radicalization within the prison system.
Hashem Abedi, already serving a lengthy sentence for his role in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, now faces fresh charges related to a violent incident at a high-security prison. Abedi, 28, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder following an attack on prison officers at HMP Frankland in County Durham on 11 April.
Details of the Incident
The attack, which took place in a separation unit of the prison, involved the use of makeshift knives and hot cooking oil, resulting in serious injuries to three officers who required hospital treatment. A fourth officer was also assaulted during the incident. Abedi, who was moved from HMP Frankland following the attack, is additionally charged with unauthorised possession of a knife.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation
Abedi, who was sentenced to a minimum of 55 years in 2020 for aiding his brother Salman Abedi in the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people, is being prosecuted under terrorism protocols. This indicates that prosecutors believe the prison attack had a terrorist motivation. The charges were brought following a comprehensive investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, in collaboration with Durham Constabulary and prison authorities.
Response and Review
The Ministry of Justice has announced a full, independent review of the incident, which has sparked criticism from survivors and victims' families of the Manchester bombing. Concerns have been raised about the security measures in place at HMP Frankland, particularly regarding prisoner access to potentially dangerous items like cooking oil.
Abedi is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 September. His nationality has been confirmed as British, with his ethnicity self-defined as Asian.
What this might mean
The charges against Hashem Abedi could lead to a significant extension of his current prison sentence if he is found guilty. The case also highlights ongoing concerns about security within high-security prisons, particularly regarding the management of inmates with a history of terrorism-related offences. The independent review by the Ministry of Justice may lead to changes in prison protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Additionally, the case underscores the complexities involved in managing individuals convicted of terrorism, raising questions about rehabilitation and the potential for radicalization within the prison system.
