The younger brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder three prison officers during a violent assault at a high-security jail.
Brutal Attack Behind Bars
Hashem Abedi, 28, appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh at the Old Bailey, flanked by four guards in riot gear. He faces charges after an April 12 attack at HMP Frankland, County Durham.
The convicted terrorist, already serving a record-breaking 55-year minimum sentence for his part in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22, showed no emotion as prosecutors detailed his savage assault on prison staff during a supervised cooking session.
Shouted “Allahu Akbar” While Striking Guards
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC revealed Abedi shouted “Allahu akbar” twice as he launched the unprovoked attack. Officers Paul Crampton, Gary Speight, and Catherine Herbert were targeted, with a fourth, Craig Thompson, also assaulted.
Abedi was held in a separation unit at the time and armed himself with makeshift weapons and hot oil during his kitchen session. Bodycam footage and CCTV caught the chilling attack in full.
Serious Injuries to Officers
- Paul Crampton suffered stab wounds and burns.
- Gary Speight received serious stab injuries.
- Catherine Herbert endured burns, reportedly from melted butter.
Despite no known prior grievances against the officers, Abedi’s extremist mindset remains clear, prosecutors said, referencing his 2020 conviction linked to the deadly Manchester bombing.
Defiant and Unrepentant
Wearing a grey prison tracksuit, Abedi stunned the court by choosing to represent himself. “Yeah, basically I don’t want to attend anyway, that is what it is,” he told the judge when questioned about his lack of legal counsel.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb issued a stern warning about the dangers of self-representation, stressing the difficulty Abedi may face in limiting damaging evidence at trial.
“If you fail to attend your trial, it can proceed without you,” the judge said, reminding Abedi he must appear in court on January 30, 2026.
From Terror Plotter to Prison Attacker
Hashem Abedi was convicted for aiding brother Salman Abedi, who detonated a suicide bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017. The attack killed 22, including seven children, and injured hundreds more.
Hashem’s 55-year minimum sentence marked the longest ever handed to a defendant under 21, underscoring the scale of his terrorist crimes.
Next Steps
Abedi remains in custody at HMP Belmarsh as his new trial, expected to last two to three weeks, is set to begin on January 18, 2027. The case has sparked fresh concerns about how dangerous inmates are supervised, especially when given access to kitchen equipment that can be used as weapons.
