Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi refuses to appear in court

Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi has refused to appear in court today to face charges of attempting to murder three prison officers.

Abedi, 28, allegedly attacked the guards at HMP Frankland in County Durham on April 12. Chief Magistrate Judge Paul Goldspring told Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday that the defendant had refused to leave his cell in HMP Belmarsh, south east London.Abedi has opted not to have legal representation.

Addressing Senior Crown Prosecutor Louise Attrill, Mr Goldspring said: "You have probably got the information that I have, that he has refused. "That puts us in some logistical and practical difficulties." Mr Goldspring said that the fact Abedi has no lawyer complicated matters further.

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He said: "What that means is that I have no power to deal with him in his absence." The judge said he would be writing to the prison to explore the possibility of using force to bring Abedi before the court at a later date.

Abedi failed to appear for his sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey in 2020 having previously dismissed his legal team and refused to take part in his murder trial. He is serving a 55-year minimum term for helping his suicide bomber brother Salman murder 22 people in 2017.

Following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Abedi was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a fourth prison officer. He is also charged with unauthorised possession in prison of a knife or offensive weapon.

Abedi previously offered no defence to the charges that he had helped his brother plan the attack on the Manchester Arena in May 2017, killing children, teenagers and adults as they left an Ariana Grande concert or waited for their loved ones.

Abedi, who allegedly had access to a "self-cook kitchen" at Frankland, is accused of throwing hot oil on prison officers before attacking them with blades. The case was adjourned until next Thursday.

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