Jailed terrorist Hashem Abedi has admitted for the primary time his involvement in planning the Manchester Arena bombing which killed 22 people, a public inquiry has heard.
His brother Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a rucksack bomb during a foyer area of stage , referred to as the town Rooms, at the top of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more on May 22, 2017.
Hashem, 23, had pleaded acquitted earlier this year to 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.
He didn’t give evidence at the Old Bailey but provided a pre-prepared defence statement during which he denied involvement, claimed to possess been ‘shocked’ by what his brother had done and didn’t hold extremist views.
He went on to be convicted by a jury of all the offences and was handed 24 life sentences in August with a minimum term of 55 years before he are often considered for parole.
On October 22 Abedi was interviewed in prison where he admitted he played ‘a full and knowing part’, the inquiry was told.
The inquiry into the fear attack heard on December 2 that a worried father waiting to select up his daughters raised the alarm over a young male with an important backpack acting suspiciously within the upper mezzanine level of the town Room foyer.
He told Showsec employee Mohammed Agha about his concerns 17 minutes before the blast at 10.31pm but it had been not until a while after 10.20pm that Mr Agha shared the report with colleague Kyle Lawler.
Security guard Mr Lawler, who was 18 at the time, then said he tried to urge through to the room on his radio but failed then returned to his post.
Mr Lawler previously told the inquiry that he didn’t approach Salman Abedi despite having a ‘bad feeling’ about him because he didn’t want to be branded a racist.
Independent security experts Colonel Richard Latham and Dr David BaMaung told the inquiry both men had ‘insufficient direction on the way to respond or report suspicious behaviour and encouragement to influence it’.
The inquiry, established by Home Secretary Priti Patel in October of last year, is investigating the background circumstances before and through the tragic bombing and is predicted to last into next spring.
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