Overview

Ismail Abedi is the elder brother of Salman and Hashem Abedi.Damon Wilkinson, “Manchester Arena bomber's brother summonsed to court over 'no show' at public inquiry,” Manchester Evening News, June 13, 2022, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-arena-bombers-brother-summonsed-24216790.amp. The former was the perpetrator of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and the latter helped build the bomb used in the attack. The explosion killed 23 people and wounded more than 1,000 others.Damon Wilkinson, “Manchester Arena bomber's brother summonsed to court over 'no show' at public inquiry,” Manchester Evening News, June 13, 2022, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-arena-bombers-brother-summonsed-24216790.amp; “A man who conspired with his brother to carry out a terror attack that killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena has been convicted,” Greater Manchester Police, March 17, 2020, https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2020/march/a-man-who-conspired-with-his-brother-to-carry-out-a-terror-attack-that-killed-22-people-at-the-manchester-arena-has-been-jailed. Abedi fled the United Kingdom in August 2021 and has yet to return. Given Abedi’s refusal to cooperate with law enforcement for his role in the bombing, the Manchester Magistrates Court has issued multiple arrest warrants against Abedi.“Arrest warrant issued for Manchester Arena bomber’s brother,” Guardian, August 2, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/02/ismail-abedi-arrest-warrant-issued-manchester-arena-bomber-brother.

According to media sources, Abedi and his siblings were raised as active members of the Didsbury mosque in Manchester.Esther Addley, Nazia Parveen, Jamie Grierson and Steven Morris, “Salman Abedi: from hot-headed party lover to suicide bomber,” Guardian, May 26, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/26/salman-abedi-manchester-arena-attack-partying-suicide-bomber. From February 2014 until July 2017, Abedi helped with Quran reading at the mosque.“Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber's brother had IS material,” BBC News, November 23, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-59392950. At some point during that period, Abedi got married.Holly Bancroft, “Manchester Arena attack: Judge issues new arrest warrant for brother of bomber,” Independent, August 2, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-bombing-ismail-abedi-arrest-b2136302.html.

In September 2015, following his return from his honeymoon in Indonesia, police at London’s Heathrow Airport investigated the contents of his phone. Among the contents was a 200-page document supporting ISIS and a Facebook post about a pilot who was burned alive by the terror group.“Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber's brother had IS material,” BBC News, November 23, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-59392950; Duncan Gardham, “Manchester Arena Inquiry: Arrest warrant issued for bomber's brother Ismail Abedi who fled UK,” Sky News, November 26, 2021, https://news.sky.com/story/manchester-arena-inquiry-arrest-warrant-issued-for-bombers-brother-ismail-abedi-who-fled-uk-12479471. Also among the images were pictures of Abedi, Salman, Hashem, and their father Ramadan, holding various weapons. The images were reportedly taken in 2011 during Libya’s civil war.“Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber's brother had IS material,” BBC News, November 23, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-59392950.

A couple of years later, on May 22, 2017, Abedi’s younger brother Salman carried out a suicide bombing in the foyer of the Manchester Arena following a concert by American pop singer Ariana Grande. The explosion killed 23 people and wounded more than 1,000 others.Katrin Bennhold, Steven Castle and Declan Walsh, “‘Forgive Me’: Manchester Bomber’s Tangled Path of Conflict and Rebellion,” New York Times, May 27, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/27/world/europe/manchester-bombing-salman-abedi-ramadan-abedi.html; “Manchester attack: What we know so far,” BBC News, June 12, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40008389; Beth Abbit, “The number of people injured in Manchester Arena attack rises to 250,” Manchester Evening News, June 22, 2017, http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/number-people-injured-manchester-arena-13223904. The next day, on May 23, Abedi was arrested in Manchester for connection to the bombing but was released.Roula Khalaf, Andy Bounds and Leila Haddou, “The suicide bomber from the anonymity of suburban Manchester,” Financial Time, May 25, 2022, https://www.ft.com/content/59e2a110-3fda-11e7-9d56-25f963e998b2. Ismail’s other brother, Hashem, was charged and arrested in Libya on the same day, and in 2017, Hashem was sent back to the United Kingdom where he sentenced to life in prison for aiding the bombing.“Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber's brother had IS material,” BBC News, November 23, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-59392950.

On September 6, 2020, the Manchester Magistrates’ Court launched a public inquiry to investigate the motivation behind the March 2017 Manchester Arena attack. Hearings began on September 7, 2020.“Manchester Arena Inquiry,” Manchester Arena Inquiry, 2022, https://manchesterarenainquiry.org.uk. Chaired by Sir John Saunders, the inquiry explored whether the attack could have been prevented, details of the security arrangements of the arena, emergency responses, and the radicalization of the Abedi brothers.“Manchester Arena Inquiry: Terror attack investigation opens,” BBC News, September 6, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-54025242; “Manchester Arena bombings: Attackers 'did not act alone', inquiry hears,” Sky News, September 29, 2020, https://news.sky.com/story/manchester-arena-bombings-attackers-did-not-act-alone-inquiry-hears-12085470; “Public inquiries,” Institute for Government, May 21, 2018, https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/public-inquiries. While meeting with a public inquiry legal team on October 22, 2020, Hashem Abedi admitted that he played a “full and knowing part” in planning the Manchester attack. Hashem also admitted he and his brother carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS.Paul Britton, “LIVE: Manchester Arena bombing inquiry hears Hashem Abedi admitted ‘he played a full part’ in the planning of the attack,” Manchester Evening News, last updated December 7, 2020, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/live-manchester-arena-bombing-inquiry-19411777; Lizzie Dearden, “Manchester Arena bomber’s brother ‘admits terror attack was for Isis,’” Independent, December 9, 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/manchester-arena-bombing-hashem-isis-inquiry-b1768849.html.

In July 2021, Abedi was served with a legal notice requiring him to give evidence to the inquiry on October 21, 2021.Damon Wilkinson, “Manchester Arena bomber's brother summonsed to court over 'no show' at public inquiry,” Manchester Evening News, June 13, 2022, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-arena-bombers-brother-summonsed-24216790.amp. Abedi was to be questioned on his role in his brothers’ radicalization and training.Holly Bancroft, “Manchester Arena attack: Judge issues new arrest warrant for brother of bomber,” Independent, August 2, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-bombing-ismail-abedi-arrest-b2136302.html. Abedi refused to cooperate with the investigation, citing fear of self-incrimination. Sir John Saunders agreed to avoid improper questions but would not provide Abedi with full prosecutorial protection.Lizzie Dearden, “Manchester Arena bomber’s brother convicted for failing to give evidence to inquiry,” Independent, July 14, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-arena-bombing-ismail-abedi-b2123091.html.

On August 28, 2021, Abedi was stopped by police under terrorism laws at Manchester Airport. Abedi assured police that he would return to the United Kingdom in time to give evidence to the inquiry in October. Abedi then left the country the next day and has yet to return to the U.K.Lizzie Dearden, “Manchester Arena bomber’s brother convicted for failing to give evidence to inquiry,” Independent, July 14, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-arena-bombing-ismail-abedi-b2123091.html; “Arrest warrant issued for Manchester Arena bomber’s brother,” Guardian, August 2, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/02/ismail-abedi-arrest-warrant-issued-manchester-arena-bomber-brother. By failing to appear at the public inquiry without a reasonable excuse, Abedi committed a criminal offense and a warrant for his arrest was issued on November 26, 2021.Holly Bancroft, “Manchester Arena attack: Judge issues new arrest warrant for brother of bomber,” Independent, August 2, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-bombing-ismail-abedi-arrest-b2136302.html.

In May 2022, Abedi was once again summoned to appear before the inquiry on July 14, 2022.Paul Britton, “Manchester Arena bomber's brother faces trial after flying out of UK and failing to attend public inquiry,” Manchester Evening News, June 17, 2022, https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-arena-bombers-brother-faces-24253069. Abedi did not comply and was found guilty in his absence by a district judge. “Arrest warrant issued for Manchester Arena bomber’s brother,” Guardian, August 2, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/02/ismail-abedi-arrest-warrant-issued-manchester-arena-bomber-brother. The case was adjourned on August 2, 2022.Lizzie Dearden, “Manchester Arena bomber’s brother convicted for failing to give evidence to inquiry,” Independent, July 14, 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-arena-bombing-ismail-abedi-b2123091.html. That same day, the Manchester Magistrates Court issued a warrant for Abedi’s arrest without bail.“Arrest warrant issued for Manchester Arena bomber’s brother,” Guardian, August 2, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/02/ismail-abedi-arrest-warrant-issued-manchester-arena-bomber-brother.