Abedi punching female student could have raised extremism 'red flag', inquiry hears
The public inquiry into the attack in 2017 is continuing to hear evidence about the bomber
Salman Abedi punching a female student following a row about her wearing a short skirt could have been a "red flag" to his radicalisation, a public inquiry has heard.
An expert in Islamist extremism told the hearing into the May 2017 Manchester Arena attack that one of the factors in the 22-year-old's motivation to carry out the suicide bombing was religious-inspired misogyny.
Dr Matthew Wilkinson said there was a pattern of those convicted of Islamist extremist offences also having a history of violence towards women, while the so-called Islamic State group - said to have inspired the bomber - was widely known for its denigration of women.
During his studies at Manchester College in 2012 and 2013, Abedi punched a student, also from the city's Libyan community, after she slapped him following comments he made about her appearance.
Abedi retaliated by striking her on the face and then delivered further punches as she lay on the ground, the inquiry was told.
Dr Wilkinson agreed with Nicholas de la Poer QC, counsel to the inquiry, that the incident could be interpreted as being driven by misogyny.
He said:
"Yes, very much so, and we have other reports from fellow students saying he had related disrespectfully to female members of staff and teachers. One fellow student said he had real problems with women.
"There is this profile of someone who had a very bad attitude towards women."
Abedi was suspended by the college but no charges were brought after police said a "mediation" had taken place at the request of the female student. Police told the college it was safe for him to return after the restorative justice process, the inquiry heard.
Mr de la Poer asked:
"Do you consider this particular incident should have been raising a red flag for the authorities about whether Salman Abedi had at that stage potentially developed a 'them and us worldview' which required some sort of intervention?"
Dr Wilkinson replied:
"I think if that event had been investigated properly it might have done. It might have flagged up the issues of dress code being abhorrent to Salman.
"I certainly think if it had been flagged up together with a consistent portrait of Salman Abedi that had come from the various educational institutions where he had attended, then it really might have been a red flag."
Another expert concluded Abedi's behaviour was "problematic" throughout his time in education, particularly as a schoolboy at Burnage Media Arts College, where there were incidents of extreme rudeness to staff, fighting, swearing, theft and hooliganism.
The disrespect to teaching staff, particularly women, continued as he got older but information on his misbehaviour was not passed between the various educational institutions.
Dr Wilkinson said the Manchester College assault "perhaps" would not have raised a flag on its own but "it might have done".
He added:
"I think the issue of a lack of this comprehensive portrait was the real issue rather than that particular incident."