Hashem Abedi, the brother of Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi, has launched a brutal attack on prison officers at HMP Frankland—scalding a female guard with boiling oil before stabbing two others with improvised weapons.
The 28-year-old, who is serving at least 55 years behind bars for helping his brother plan the 2017 terror attack that killed 22 people and injured hundreds, is said to have carried out the premeditated assault in the kitchen of the prison’s separation unit.
‘Silent and grinning’ as the attack began
Witnesses said Abedi appeared “silent and grinning” as he began his assault. He is believed to have collected dozens of butter sachets, melted them down, and then hurled the hot oil over a female prison officer. She was later treated in hospital and discharged the same day.
Abedi then turned on two male officers, stabbing them with makeshift 30cm-long knives crafted from cooking trays with kitchen towel-wrapped handles. The blades had reportedly been hidden in the unit in preparation for the ambush.
‘All hell broke loose’ inside HMP Frankland
A source told The Sun: “This is a terrorist attack in a prison, not just an assault. It was extremely serious and clearly premeditated. There’s no doubt he wanted to kill.” According to the report, one of the stabbed officers suffered a neck wound while another sustained five stab injuries to the back, resulting in a punctured lung.
The attack left blood pouring down the corridors, and the emergency unfolded rapidly as staff rushed in to help the victims. A specialist riot team eventually restrained Abedi, who reportedly remained eerily calm throughout the ordeal.
Injured guards recovering in hospital
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, confirmed the injuries were severe but that both men are now in a stable condition. “It’s miraculous they survived,” a prison source added.
Following the attack, Abedi was transferred to another prison. A white prison van was seen leaving HMP Frankland shortly before 6pm on Saturday evening.
Investigation now in hands of counter-terror police
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the attack and said it is now being treated as a counter-terror investigation. It is believed other extremist inmates may have assisted Abedi in planning or enabling the attack.
Abedi was convicted in 2020 for his role in helping his brother Salman prepare the Manchester Arena bombing, one of the worst terror attacks in recent UK history. His sentence is among the longest handed out for terrorism offences in Britain.
