Hashem Abedi on trial accused of ‘terrorist’ attacks on three prison officers with hot oil and makeshift weapons
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has pleaded not guilty to carrying out “terrorist” attacks on prison officers at a maximum-security jail with hot cooking oil and makeshift weapons.
Hashem Abedi, 28, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday by video link from HMP Belmarsh in south-east London. The prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC said the case had a terrorist connection and taken place during “a session where he was permitted to use cooking equipment”.
Ledward told the court that Abedi “attacked and attempted to murder three prison officers using hot oil and makeshift weapons he had constructed himself”, shouting “Allahu Akbar” twice during the attack. A fourth officer was assaulted.
Ledward said there was no indication the defendant had any previous hostility towards the alleged victims, but that he did hold an extremist mindset considering “not least his conviction in 2020 in connection with the Manchester Arena bombing”.
