Judge issues warrant for arrest of Manchester Arena bomber's brother Ishmale Abedi

A district judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of Ishmale Abedi - the elder brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman. The 29-year-old was found guilty in his absence last month of failing to comply with a legal notice requiring him to give evidence at the public inquiry into the bombing atrocity, which claimed 22 lives.

Ishmale Abedi did not attend today’s hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court (Tuesday). If arrested, the judge said he would then be sentenced for the offence. He fled the country during the inquiry despite being legally compelled to attend.

A QC previously told the court Ishmale Abedi was 'determined' not to co-operate with the public inquiry into the atrocity 'from the first'. He was found guilty in his absence on July 14.

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Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a device in a rucksack as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert at the venue. Sixty three people were also seriously injured, with 111 hospitalised. His brother Hashem Abedi, 24, was jailed for life for the 22 murders by assisting the bomb plot.

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