Salman Abedi 'talked about killing people in a public space' for years before he detonated Manchester Arena bomb, inquiry told

Mass murderer Salman Abedi had 'talked about killing people in a public space' for years before he detonated a bomb at Manchester Arena, the public inquiry into the atrocity heard.

But, the inquiry heard, Abedi spoke about it 'so often' that it wasn't 'taken seriously' and dismissed as 'hearsay' by those who knew him.

A prison officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence on Tuesday (February 15).

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'PO1', as he was referred to, told of a conversation he had with convicted terrorist recruiter Abdalraouf Abdallah in his prison cell on December 1 last year, days after Abdallah had given evidence to the inquiry.

Chairman Sir John Saunders asked Abdallah during the hearing in November if he had any suspicions Abedi could become a suicide bomber.

Abdallah told the inquiry: "No, no way. None of my friends, anyone, had any idea what's going on in Salman's head."

He said he heard the news on the radio at the time and called a friend from prison through tears.

Abedi, Abdallah said, had 'never spoken about something like that'.

The prison officer said Abdallah - who he called 'Abs' - 'called him over for a chat' on December 1 and through his body language, he 'seemed bothered about something'.

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PO1 said: "He was sat in his cell just watching tele.

"I went in and sat on his bed. I said 'right Abdul, what's on your mind?'."

The officer said Abdallah told him he was 'shocked' to find out that 'one of his boys' had committed the Arena attack.

PO1 said