Andy Burnham says Hashem Abedi ‘should not be in a position to cause harm again’ after prison officers attack
Andy Burnham says Hashem Abedi ‘should not be in a position to cause harm again’ after the terrorist ‘viciously’ attacked prison officers.
Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman, is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 55 years for his role in plotting the May 2017 attack, which tragically killed 22 people, writes the LDRS.
He was being held in a separation unit inside HMP Frankland, County Durham, when he ‘threw hot cooking oil over’ staff and ‘then produced home made weapons and proceeded to stab the officers’ on Saturday (April 12), a statement The Prison Officer’s Association said.
Three people were hospitalised from the incident, two seriously, police confirmed on Sunday.
One Arena bombing survivor blasted authorities over what he called ‘a catastrophic failure’.
Martin Hibbert, who suffered life-changing injuries along with his daughter Eve, at the Ariana Grande concert, said in an open letter: “Let’s call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist.
“Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him – he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons.”
The government has since confirmed it will conduct ‘a full review into how this attack was able to happen’.
The move has been welcomed by Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham, who said on Thursday: “I am glad there has been an inquiry ordered. All of that inquiry should be disclosed to the families.
“I will make sure that happens. We need an explanation as to how this happened and what the arrangements are going forward.”
Mr Burnham also told BBC Radio Manchester Abedi ‘should not be in a position to cause harm again’.
He added: “Whenever news comes out relating to the Manchester Arena attack, I always think of the families. They live with the pain every day.
“I do share the shock. The thing straight away I thought was how is this possible?
“How can someone in this position be given enough liberty to cause harm again? They should not be in a position to cause harm again.”
It is understood Abedi has been moved to HMP Belmarsh in London.