Arena bomber's brother able to 'laugh in the face of the inquiry'

The elder brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi was allowed to leave the country a day after he was stopped at an airport by police, a court has heard.

Officers using counter-terrorism powers interviewed Ismail Abedi, 28, which caused him to miss his intended flight from Manchester on August 28 but he successfully boarded a plane at the same airport on August 29 and has not returned to the UK since.

He was called to give "highly important" evidence at the public inquiry into the May 2017 atrocity committed by Salman Abedi, and aided by their brother, Hashem Abedi, 24, who was jailed for life last year, as to how they they had become radicalised.

In July he received a summons to attend on Thursday October 21 and was informed that any objection needed to be received by mid-August.

When no response came, the inquiry's solicitor emailed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and requested to be notified as soon as possible if they received any information "to suggest that Ismail Abedi may not comply with the notice; for example, by leaving this jurisdiction".

However, inquiry officials had no prior warning of Ismail Abedi's plans as they were not informed by GMP of either airport visit until August 31.

On Monday, Ahmed Taghdi, 29, a childhood friend of Salman Abedi, who also failed to co-operate with the inquiry, was arrested as he attempted to leave the country following the granting of a High Court order compelling him to attend on Thursday.

Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney QC told chairman Sir John Saunders it is "a matter of some doubt" whether the High Court would have been prepared to take enforcement action nearly two months before Ismail Abedi was due to give evidence but the inquiry has lost the opportunity to pursue that route.

He said: "That he (Ismail Abedi) has been able to thwart the wishes of the inquiry by getting on a plane is the subject of intense public concern and, moreover, anger among the bereaved families, and it has caused your inquiry team - and you - considerable frustration, to say the least.

"There is considerable doubt about whether the police had a power to prevent him from leaving when he did. They believe that they didn't and there must be some doubt whether the High Court would have been prepared to take action.

"It is not our intention to criticise anyone and it shouldn't be assumed that Greater Manchester Police failed to pass on the information promptly when received by them. And, in any event, we understand that they considered there was simply no power available to them to prevent his departure when he did, and they may well be right.

"Whether something has gone wrong here in accordance with the existing structures of the law, or whether the law was simply not adequate to deal with the situation, we simply do not know at the moment."

He added: "A situation in which this important witness has been able to flee and effectively laugh in the face of the inquiry is one which should never be permitted to occur again."

Failure to attend 'entirely deliberate'

The inquiry heard that Ismail Abedi told officials during the August 28 airport stop that he intended to return to the UK, while Mr Greaney said a "self-serving and, frankly, disgraceful" statement was received from his solicitor on Wednesday which "makes plain that Ismail Abedi's failure to attend this hearing is entirely deliberate".

Duncan Atkinson QC, representing some of the bereaved families, said: "The families have the very gravest of concerns and the most extreme sense of frustration that this has occurred, not only that so important a witness has flouted this inquiry but has shown such profound disrespect to the families in doing so."

Sir John said he does not want to rush to judgment but would like a detailed explanation from GMP and what governed their actions or lack thereof.

He said: "I fully recognise the frustration that must be felt by the families. We all wanted him to be here to answer questions. Whether he would have been able to claim privilege against self-incrimination, I have no idea, but the reality is we have lost the opportunity to do that, so I recognise the frustrations."

Ismail Abedi was interviewed extensively by counter-terrorism police for a fortnight following his arrest in May 2017 before he was released without charge.

He denied any involvement in or knowledge of the bombing and stated he had played no part in the radicalisation of Salman Abedi.

However, the inquiry has previously heard that the police investigation remains open and there will be further attempts to speak to him.