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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Katy Clifton

Hashem Abedi: Brother of Manchester Arena bomber denies 22 counts of murder

Hashem Abedi could stand trial within the next two months (Picture: Libyan Interior Ministry/AP)

The younger brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has denied 22 counts of murder.

Hashem Abedi, 22, appeared in custody at the Old Bailey on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to murdering 22 people, one charge for each of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Abedi was remanded in custody and a trial date at the Old Bailey has been set for January 13.

On May 22 2017, Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a suicide vest as music fans left an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring 260 more.

His sibling, Hashem Abedi, who was raised in Manchester, travelled to Libya before the attack.

The defendant, now aged 22, was arrested in Tripoli and was extradited to the UK in July.

Greater Manchester Police of the 22 victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena. (Greater Manchester Police handout photos)

He appeared at the Old Bailey before senior judge Mr Justice Baker for a plea hearing on Tuesday.

The defendant wore spectacles, a grey sweatshirt and burgundy T-shirt in the dock of court two.

It took six minutes for all the charges to be read out in court and for Abedi to enter not guilty pleas to each one in turn.

Abedi also faces a single count of attempted murder for all the other victims and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

During the hearing, the judge put off the trial from November 11 to January 13. The case is expected to go on for up to eight weeks.

The defendant allegedly made successful and unsuccessful attempts to buy bomb-making chemicals.

It is claimed he helped in buying a Nissan Micra to store device components and he made detonator tubes for use in the explosive.

The defendant was remanded into custody at top security HMP Belmarsh.

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