Hashem Abedi, convicted for his role in the Manchester Arena bombing, is scheduled to stand trial in January accused of attempting to murder three prison officers at a maximum security jail.
Abedi, 28, is accused of attempting to murder Paul Crampton, Gary Speight and Catherine Herbert. He is also accused of assaulting a fourth officer, Craig Thompson, causing actual bodily harm. All the incidents are alleged to have occurred at HMP Frankland in Durham on 11 April. He additionally faces a charge of unauthorised possession of a knife in prison. Abedi denies all the charges.
Court Appearance at the Old Bailey
The defendant appeared at the Old Bailey on November 13 for a preparatory hearing before Mr Justice Hilliard. His trial has previously been scheduled for January 18 next year.
Three prison officers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after they were allegedly attacked with hot oil and makeshift weapons, it was previously reported. At the time of the incident, the Prison Officers Association said the staff sustained injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds.
Background of the Conviction
Abedi was convicted of assisting with the Manchester terror plot, in which his brother, suicide bomber Salman Abedi, killed 22 people by detonating a homemade rucksack bomb among a crowd of concert-goers. He was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 55 years, in August 2020.
