All prisoners held in the terrorism prison unit where Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi attacked guards have been moved, the BBC has been told. There were seven prisoners in the HMP Frankland separation centre at the time of Abedi's attack on Saturday, including the extremist preacher Anjem Choudary. The centre has now been emptied and is the subject of an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation into the attack, which saw Abedithrow hot oil at officers and stab them with improvised blades. Abedi himself has been moved to London's high-security Belmarsh prison, while the other six prisoners in have been moved to HMP Woodhill, a source told the BBC. The Frankland separation centre is now a crime scene, with counter-terror detectives investigating Saturday's attack. One line of inquiry is whether any other inmates in the unit knew about the attack in advance or assisted in the planning and preparation. The incident has not yet been declared a terrorist attack by the senior national co-ordinator for counterterrorism, whose responsibility it is to make the formal assessment. In the event the attack is formally classed as terrorism, and prosecuted as having a terrorist connection, that would open up a route for people shown to have known about it in advance to potentially be prosecuted for the offence of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. This law is used to prosecute people suspected of knowing about planned attacks who fail to warn the authorities. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said there will be a full, independent review into the incident, which has drawn criticism from survivors and the families of victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. Martin Hibbert, a survivor of the 2017 attack, criticised how Abedi was given the "comfort and privilege" of kitchen facilities and said he was furious the pain of survivors was being so "blatantly disrespected". Abedi, who helped his older brother Salman plan the Manchester Arena bombing, was jailed for life with a minimum 55 years in prison after being convicted of murdering 22 people. Mr Hibbert was paralysed from the waist down in the blast and his daughter Eve left severely disabled. In an open letter to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Mr Hibbert said: "Let's call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist. "Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him - he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons. "I was led to believe that people like him - mass murderers, terrorists - would face a regime of strict control and zero comfort. I was told justice would be served. "What I see now is not justice. It's a shameful lack of accountability and basic prison security." Abedi had been held in a separation centre - which holds a small number of inmates deemed to be dangerous and extremist - at Frankland. He moved to Frankland after carrying out an earlier attack on prison officers in Belmarsh prison in 2020, for which three years and 10 months was added to his sentence. Two prison officers remain in hospital with serious injuries from the latest attack, while a third has been discharged. "I'm not just angry. I'm broken by this," Mr Hibbert added. "And I am furious that the pain of survivors like me is being so blatantly disrespected by your inaction. "This cannot continue. Something drastic needs to be done. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now. "Review his prison privileges. Strip him of any access to areas where he can make or find weapons. Protect your staff. Protect the memory of those we lost. Respect those who survived. "Because right now, it feels like you've forgotten us." Mr Hibbert's letter comes a day after families of five people murdered in theArena bombing told the justice secretary of their "absolute disbelief" over the HMP Frankland attack. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman has said it was "clear that something went terribly wrong" with how Abedi had been handled. A MoJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and their families who are understandably concerned by the shocking attack at HMP Frankland this weekend. "We've already takenimmediate action to suspend access to kitchensin separation and close supervision centres. "We will also launch a full independent review into how this attack was able to happen and will set out the terms and scope of this review in the coming days." With his brother, the suicide bomber Salman Abedi, Hashem Abedi planned and prepared the attack on the Ariana Grande concert in 2017. He was in Libya when the blast took place and was later extradited to the UK to face trial. Hashem Abedi was found guilty in 2020 of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life, andsentenced to a record 55-year minimum term before he could be considered for parole.
Prison unit emptied after Manchester bomber attack
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Prison Unit Cleared Following Attack by Manchester Arena Bomber Hashem Abedi"
Bbc News
7.5
TruthLens AI Summary
In the aftermath of a violent incident at HMP Frankland, all prisoners from the terrorism unit have been relocated following an attack by Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber. The attack occurred on Saturday, where Abedi assaulted prison guards using boiling oil and improvised weapons, prompting an immediate response from counter-terrorism investigators. At the time of the attack, the unit housed seven prisoners, including notorious extremist preacher Anjem Choudary. As a result of the incident, Abedi has been transferred to Belmarsh prison, while the remaining six inmates were moved to HMP Woodhill. The Frankland separation centre has been designated a crime scene, and investigators are probing whether other inmates were complicit in the assault. Although the attack has yet to be officially classified as terrorism, this designation could lead to further legal implications for those who may have had prior knowledge of the attack but failed to report it to authorities.
The Ministry of Justice has pledged a comprehensive independent review of the incident, responding to widespread criticisms, especially from survivors of the 2017 bombing. Martin Hibbert, a survivor who suffered life-altering injuries in the attack, expressed outrage at the privileges afforded to Abedi, arguing that it undermines the suffering of the victims and their families. He emphasized the need for immediate reassessment of security protocols in prisons housing dangerous criminals like Abedi, who has previously attacked prison staff. The Ministry has already suspended access to kitchen facilities in high-security units and committed to a thorough investigation into how such a breach of security could occur. The incident raises significant concerns regarding prison management and the treatment of high-risk inmates, highlighting a perceived failure to adequately protect both prison staff and the public from known terrorists.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The report about the evacuation of a high-security prison unit following an attack by Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi raises several critical questions about prison management, counterterrorism measures, and public accountability. The incident highlights vulnerabilities within the UK’s prison system, particularly in handling high-risk extremist inmates, and has sparked outrage among survivors of the 2017 attack.
Security and Counterterrorism Implications
The relocation of all prisoners from HMP Frankland’s separation unit suggests a systemic reassessment of security protocols. The fact that Abedi was able to procure hot oil and makeshift weapons points to potential failures in monitoring and restricting dangerous materials. The ongoing counterterrorism investigation may reveal whether other inmates were complicit, which could lead to broader legal repercussions under terrorism disclosure laws.
Public and Political Reaction
Survivors and victims’ families have expressed anger over Abedi’s access to kitchen facilities, framing it as a privilege inconsistent with his crimes. This sentiment could fuel demands for stricter prison conditions for convicted terrorists. The Ministry of Justice’s promise of an independent review indicates political pressure to address public concerns, but skepticism remains about whether systemic changes will follow.
Media Narrative and Potential Manipulation
The BBC’s focus on the attack’s details and the subsequent prison transfers may serve multiple purposes:
1.
Transparency
: Highlighting security gaps to push for institutional reforms.
2.
Distraction
: Shifting attention from other contentious issues, such as broader prison overcrowding or government oversight failures.
3.
Fear/Narrative Control
: Reinforcing the perception of persistent terrorist threats, which could justify stricter security policies.
The report does not appear overtly manipulative but leans into emotional narratives (e.g., survivor outrage) to underscore its urgency. There is no clear evidence of AI-driven bias, though the framing aligns with traditional public service broadcasting standards—emphasizing accountability and safety.
Economic and Geopolitical Relevance
While the story is domestically focused, it could indirectly impact UK policy debates on counterterrorism funding or international cooperation. No direct market effects are likely, but prolonged scrutiny of prison systems might influence justice-sector stakeholders.
Credibility Assessment
The BBC’s reputation as a reliable source lends credibility, but the lack of named sources for prisoner transfers and investigation details introduces minor uncertainty. The report’s alignment with established facts (e.g., Abedi’s prior conviction) supports its overall reliability.