Brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi leaves Britain ahead of inquiry date
Brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has LEFT Britain ahead of appearing at the public inquiry he was ordered to attend after REFUSING to answer questions about the atrocity
Officials had hoped to force Ismail Abedi to attend inquiry into 2017 terror attackHe told officials he would only give evidence if he could be guaranteed immunityBut it has now been revealed that Ismail has left the UK ahead of his appearance
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The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has left the country ahead of his planned appearance at an inquiry into the deadly terror attack, it has today been revealed.
Officials had hoped to force Ismail Abedi, 27, to attend the ongoing inquiry into the 2017 suicide bombing, which claimed the lives of 22 people.
But it has now been revealed that Ismail, who lives in Manchester, is no longer in the UK.
He previously told officials he would only give evidence if he could be guaranteed immunity from prosecution.
The inquiry was due to hear evidence from Ismail on Thursday, having issued a Section 21 notice compelling him to appear at the hearing.
But Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said this morning that Ismail is ‘not currently in the country’ and there is ‘no indication as to when he will return’.
Speaking today at inquiry, which is due this week to hear evidence relating to Salman’s Abedi’s friends and relatives, Mr Greaney said: ‘The inquiry legal team has done all it can to obtain evidence from Salman Abedi’s immediate family.
‘His father, his mother and their younger children are all presently in Libya, as far as the inquiry is aware.
‘Salman Abedi’s older brother, Ismail Abedi, does generally still reside in the United Kingdom.
‘It is highly regrettable that he has refused to provide a statement, or co-operate with the inquiry in any meaningful way.
Officials had hoped to force Ismail Abedi to answer questions at the inquiry into the 2017 suicide bombing, which claimed the lives of 22 people. But it has now been revealed that Ismail is no longer in the UK
Lawyers for the families of the 22 people murdered in the May 2017 attack by Salman Abedi (pictured) were divided over allowing Abedi immunity to get him to co-operate and answer questions, with others who opposed the move describing it as ‘unconscionable’
‘A section 21 notice has been issued to him requiring him to attend the inquiry this Thursday in order to give oral evidence.
‘However, we understand he is currently not in the country and there is no indication as to when he will return.
‘Ismail Abedi clearly has important evidence to give to the inquiry and we urge him today to make contact with the inquiry legal team, either directly, or through his own legal representatives.’
Speaking directly to the chairman of the inquiry, Mr Greaney added: ‘As he surely must understand, if he does not so the public might infer that he has something to hide, and so sir may you.’
The legal order compelling Ismail to attend was made after his bid for immunity from prosecution was rejected.
Ismail wanted a promise from the Attorney General that in return for answering questions at the public inquiry into the terror attack, his evidence would not ‘land him in the dock,’ his lawyer told the hearing in Manchester last month.
A legal application was made to Sir John Saunders, chairman of the inquiry, asking him to consider making the application to the Attorney General in return for Abedi’s co-operation.
However in his ruling, made public in June, Sir John refused the application and said allowing immunity to get Abedi to co-operate could outweigh any evidence he gave which might justify charges of murder against him over the deaths in the bombing.
The ruling said: ‘If as a result of an undertaking from the Attorney General the applicant was to disclose material to the inquiry which provided evidence to justify charges of murder or conspiracy to murder then he could avoid trial for 22 murders and causing serious injury to many more.
‘While less serious, if he were to disclose material as a result of the undertaking which evidenced a failure by him to disclose information to the authorities which could have prevented the bombing happening, a failure to prosecute would be considered by many to be a considerable affront to justice.’
Abedi’s other brother, Hashem Abedi, was previously found guilty of 22 counts of murder relating to the attack
Lawyers for the families of the 22 people murdered in the May 2017 attack were divided over allowing Abedi immunity to get him to co-operate and answer questions, with others who opposed the move describing it as ‘unconscionable’.
Currently Ismail Abedi, who is married and lives in Manchester, is refusing to co-operate with the inquiry despite repeated requests, claiming his legal privilege not to incriminate himself.
He denies any knowledge or involvement in the bomb plot. Abedi’s other brother, Hashem Abedi, was previously found guilty of 22 counts of murder relating to the attack.
MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for a comment.
