The younger brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has formally entered not guilty pleas to multiple charges of murder and conspiring for attacking Ariana Grande on May 22, 2017, killing 22 people and injured 260 others.
At an Old Bailey hearing, Hashem Abedi’s trial which was due to start next month was also delayed until the New Year.
Hashem Abedi, 22, from Fallowfield, but of Libyan heritage, appeared at The Old Bailey in London for a plea and case management hearing.
Dressed in a grey fleece and wearing glasses, he entered not guilty pleas when each of 22 counts of murder was read to him by the court clerk.
He was remanded in custody at Belmarsh prison in south-east London and is due to go on trial on 13 January at the Old Bailey.
Abedi is accused of making both successful and unsuccessful attempts to buy bomb-making chemicals. It is also alleged that Abedi assisted in buying a Nissan Micra to store device components, and made detonator tubes for use in the explosive.
Meanwhile Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed that a public inquiry into the attacks will take place as soon as possible. She agreed a public inquiry should replace the inquest process, following last month’s ruling from Sir John Saunders, the coroner of the Manchester Arena inquest, certain highly sensitive intelligence would risk national security if it became public.
