The father of Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, has been arrested in Libya.
The
detention of Ramadan Abedi on Wednesday (24 May) comes just hours after
he claimed his son was innocent and that he had been planning a
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with The Associated Press, 51-year-old Ramadan
confirmed that his other son, Ismail, had been arrested Tuesday (23
May). "We don't believe in killing innocents. This is not us," he said
from Tripoli.
"We aren't the ones who blow up ourselves among innocents. We go to mosques. We recite Koran, but not that."
Reuters reported that 20-year-old Hashem Abedi,
younger brother of Salman, had been detained Tuesday in Tripoli on
suspicion of Islamic State (Isis) links. His arrest was confirmed by
Ahmed Bin Salem, a spokesman for a local counter-terrorism force known
as Rada.
"We
have evidence that he is involved in Daesh (Islamic State) with his
brother. We have been following him for more than one month and a half,"
Bin Salem said. "He was in contact with his brother and he knew about
the attack."
Meanwhile, the New York Times has published a series of images reportedly showing components of the bomb used by Abedi.
According
to the Times, the bomber appeared to have carried the powerful
explosive in a lightweight metal container that he either hid behind a
black vest or in a blue Karrimor backpack. Preliminary information
gathered by authorities reveal Abedi held a small detonator in his hand.
Images
shared by the Times show the tattered remains of the backpack allegedly
used by Abedi. Evidence collected at the scene does not specify the
size or type of explosive used in the bomb but "suggests an improvised
device made with forethought and care".
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