If there has been one constant in Hashem Abedi’s miserable life it has been the determined failure of the British state to protect its citizens from men like him. Abedi is accused of inflicting ‘life-threatening injuries’ on three prison officers in an attack at HMP Frankland on Saturday. Injuries are said to include ‘burns, scalds and stab wounds’, with Abedi reported to have scalded the guards with hot cooking oil and stabbed them with improvised weapons. Two men remain in hospital as of writing.
Abedi was jailed for a minimum of 55 years after being found guilty on 22 counts of murder for his role in the Manchester Arena attack. Hashem helped his brother Salman obtain the chemicals to produce triacetone triperoxide (TATP). Hashem and Salman fashioned prototypes of their bomb from oil cans and pizza sauce tins, cramming them with nails and screws to maximise casualties.
Although the finished product was assembled by Salman, sentencing judge Mr Justice Baker was ‘entirely satisfied’ that Salman was ‘only enabled to do so as a result of the extensive preparation work’ which had been conducted along with Hashem.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in