Manchester Arena Bomb Plotter Regains Prison Privileges Despite Brutal Attack on Staff

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The brother of the Manchester Arena suicide bomber has reportedly had his prison privileges reinstated, just months after he allegedly launched a violent attack on officers with makeshift weapons and scalding oil.

Hashem Abedi, who is serving a record minimum 55-year sentence for his role in the 2017 terror bombing that killed 22 people, is said to have been returned to a ‘standard’ prison regime following a period of what officials described as “good behaviour”. The decision comes despite serious concerns over his conduct and risk to staff and other inmates.

Abedi, who was previously stripped of his privileges after allegedly attacking three guards at HMP Frankland in County Durham, is now believed to have regained access to amenities including gym use, more time out of his cell, and increased canteen credit. He is also reported to have access to a Freeview television with 25 channels and more funds for phone calls.

A prison source told The Sun, “They do that when someone behaves, and it makes a huge difference to how comfortable the inmate’s life is. He’ll get Freeview TV with about 25 channels, can afford better food, and won’t be in his cell as much. Naturally, he is cock-a-hoop about it, but many of the officers who look after him are less than happy, especially considering what he did to their colleagues.”

The original attack that led to his downgrade in privileges reportedly occurred on April 12 this year. Abedi is alleged to have used a pan of boiling cooking oil and two homemade blades, fashioned from a baking tray, to target three officers during a sudden rampage inside the prison kitchen. One officer was stabbed in the neck, narrowly avoiding a fatal artery. Another suffered at least five stab wounds to the back, one of which punctured a lung, while a female officer was also left with serious burn injuries.

Abedi was transferred to the high-security HMP Belmarsh in London after the incident. He is understood to be under close watch and barred from contact with inmates under the age of 18 over concerns that he may attempt to radicalise younger prisoners. Yet despite these ongoing worries, his status has been relaxed.

The attack earlier this year has fuelled debate about safety standards in British prisons. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that prison officers will begin trialling tasers, and that further measures are being considered to protect front-line staff. She also indicated that the Prison Service examines whether guards should be issued protective body armour.

The incident has shone a spotlight on the increasing number of assaults on prison staff, which have risen sharply in recent months. Official figures showed 10,605 assaults on officers in the year to December, a 13 percent rise. Union leaders have called for immediate action, including the provision of stab vests and enhanced safety gear, citing the growing dangers officers face daily.

Despite public outrage and concern among staff, the Ministry of Justice has declined to comment on Abedi’s status or the decisions surrounding his prison regime. The Prisons Minister has been approached for a statement.

Hashem Abedi was convicted of assisting his brother, Salman Abedi, in carrying out the Manchester Arena bombing during an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. The attack claimed the lives of 22 people and injured over a thousand, many of them young children and teenagers.