Hashem Abedi due to be extradited from Libya to the UK by the end of the year

On 15^th November 2018, the Libyan Prime Minister stated that he expects that Hashem Abedi will be extradited from Libya to the UK by the end of the year. The Libyan Prime Minister said:

 “I think from here to the end of this year we will finish all the legal procedure in Libya. We are fully cooperating because we understand the suffering of the families of the victims of this terrorist attack. We as Libyans also suffer in Libya from attacks. So, the subject is important for us. According to the general prosecutor we can extradite. After we complete the legal process in Libya, it is only a matter of time.”

Hashem Abedi is the younger brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi. He was arrested in Libya shortly after his older brother’s attack on 22nd May 2017. Greater Manchester Police and counter-terrorism officers have already been granted a warrant for Mr Abedi’s arrest on the grounds that they believe they have enough evidence to charge him with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion in relation to the Manchester Arena bombing.

Currently, Hashem Abedi is being held by a militia group in Libya. A photograph of him was released inside the Tripoli-based Special Deterrence Force anti-terrorism unit after his detention on 24 May 2018.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said:

 “The extradition proceedings are in progress and we are grateful to the Libyan authorities for considering our extradition request. As proceedings are ongoing, it is essential that we respect the Libyan legal process and therefore we cannot provide any further detail at this time.”