All prisoners held in the terrorism prison unit at HMP Frankland, where Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi attacked guards on Saturday, April 12, 2025, have been moved. There were seven prisoners in the HMP Frankland separation centre at the time of Abedi's attack, including the notorious extremist preacher Anjem Choudary. Following the incident, the centre has now been emptied, and it is currently the subject of an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation into the attack, which saw Abedi throw hot oil at officers and stab them with improvised blades.
Abedi himself has been transferred to London's high-security Belmarsh prison, while the other six prisoners have been relocated to HMP Woodhill. The Frankland separation centre is now classified as a crime scene, with counter-terror detectives actively investigating the events of that fateful Saturday.
One line of inquiry is whether any other inmates in the unit were aware of the attack in advance or assisted in its planning and execution. So far, the incident has not been officially declared a terrorist attack by the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism, who is responsible for making such assessments.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that a full, independent review into the incident will be conducted. This announcement has drawn criticism from survivors and the families of victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. Martin Hibbert, a survivor of the 2017 attack, expressed his outrage over Abedi being granted “comfort and privilege” in the form of kitchen facilities, stating he was furious that the pain of survivors was being so "blatantly disrespected."
Hibbert, who was paralyzed from the waist down in the blast, and whose daughter Eve was left severely disabled, wrote an open letter to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, highlighting the failures in the prison system. He stated, "Let's call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist." He continued, lamenting that Abedi was allowed to track and target three prison guards with 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," Hibbert added.
Two prison officers remain hospitalized with serious injuries from the attack, while a third officer has since been discharged. Hibbert's letter, which has garnered media attention, follows a day after families of five individuals murdered in the Arena bombing expressed their "absolute disbelief" over the HMP Frankland attack to the justice secretary.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman has acknowledged that it was "clear that something went terribly wrong" regarding how Abedi was managed within the prison system. A spokesperson for the MoJ stated, "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 taken immediate action to suspend access to kitchens in separation and close supervision centres."
In addition to the ongoing investigations, there are concerns about Abedi's handling within the prison system. Following the attack, he was transferred back to Belmarsh prison, where he had previously launched a vicious attack on prison guards. Reports indicate that prison officers at Belmarsh have expressed concerns about allowing Abedi to have a spork—a combination of a spoon and a fork—indicating fears that even basic cutlery could be a potential weapon.
Abedi, who was found guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life, was sentenced to a minimum of 55 years in prison. This sentence was handed down after he was convicted of his role in planning the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing alongside his brother, Salman Abedi. The bombing resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of prison staff and the public, as well as addressing the concerns raised by victims and their families. The MoJ has promised to outline the terms and scope of the independent review in the coming days, aiming to restore confidence in the prison system and its ability to manage dangerous individuals effectively.
In the wake of these events, the broader implications for prison security and the treatment of high-risk inmates come into sharper focus. The ongoing scrutiny of the prison system's handling of such cases highlights the urgent need for reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. Survivors like Martin Hibbert and the families of the victims continue to seek accountability and justice, demanding that the lessons learned from this incident lead to meaningful changes in how the justice system operates.
