Arena bombmaker denies attempted prison murders

Manchester Arena bombmaker Hashem Abedi has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder three prison officers in a terrorist attack.

The 28-year-old is serving a life sentence for helping his suicide bomber brother Salman Abedi murder 22 people in the 2017 Manchester Arena atrocity.

Hashem Abedi entered not guilty pleas to three counts of attempted murder, one of assault causing actual bodily harm, and one of having offensive weapons inside a prison.

The Old Bailey in London was told the alleged offences had a "terrorist" motivation.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC said Abedi twice shouted "Allahu akbar" - meaning "God is greatest" - during the attack at HMP Frankland in County Durham on 12 April.

Prosecutors allege he attacked four prison officers and was found with multiple makeshift knives.

Abedi is also accused of throwing boiling liquid at the officers during the attack.

Three of the prison officers – two men and a woman – were taken to hospital, two with stab wounds.

Prosecutors said Abedi had three makeshift knives during the initial assault, and then collected two more from his cell.

He appeared by video link from HMP Belmarsh flanked by five prison officers dressed in riot masks and protective body armour.

Abedi was dressed in a grey prison tracksuit.

He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and also confirmed he did not want to be legally represented.

The accused also told the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grub, that: "I don't wanna intend anyway that's what it is."

He is due to stand trial from 18 January 2027.

Abedi was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on 30 January 2026.