Hashem Abedi, 28, has been accused of a violent assault on three prison guards in a high-security facility in County Durham, England. The alleged attack occurred at Frankland Prison over the weekend while Abedi was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the deadly Manchester Arena bombing that took place during an Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
According to the Prison Officers’ Association, Abedi inflicted serious injuries by throwing hot cooking oil at the guards and then using homemade weaponry to stab them. The officers suffered from a range of injuries, including burns and stab wounds. Following the incident, one female officer was treated at a hospital and later discharged, while two male officers were reportedly kept for further medical care.
Abedi received a life sentence in 2020, being imprisoned for a minimum of 55 years due to his role in the bombing that killed 22 individuals and injured numerous others. His brother, Salman Abedi, was the perpetrator of the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group. The British legal system did not allow for a life sentence without the possibility of parole in Hashem’s case, as he was under 21 at the time of the bombing.
In response to the latest incident, the prison service stated that a police investigation is underway, emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy towards violence within prisons. The Durham Constabulary has announced that their inquiries regarding the attack are ongoing, assuring the public that they will seek the strongest penalties for any acts of aggression against prison staff.
