22 people were killed in a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017. This week, a public inquiry into the atrocity will report on the radicalization of the bomber, Salman Abedi, and whether security services missed opportunities to stop him.
MI5 suspected Mansour Al-Anezi, a Muslim preacher who was close to Abedi, of being a radicalizer more than a decade before the public hearings, according to information obtained by the BBC.
Al-Anezi was investigated prior to the 2008 attempt by a close associate of his to carry out a suicide bombing in Exeter. Al-Anezi passed away prior to the arena assault, but his death is still under investigation. Investigators were alerted when he moved to a Plymouth mosque frequented by the bomber, where he regularly led prayers. He was also in phone contact with Hashem Abedi, who planned the attack with his brother Salman.
The BBC discovered inconsistencies in Al-story, Anezi’s and evidence suggests he used multiple aliases and that his real name may have been entirely different. He admitted entering the United Kingdom using a fake passport under the name Nasar Al Ajmi, but claimed the document had been destroyed and he could not recall the airport at which he arrived.
The investigation has also considered other possible influences on Salman Abedi, such as his time at the Didsbury Mosque in Manchester. Before the Arena bombing, the BBC discovered that two other young men who attended the mosque died in conflict abroad and were hailed as martyrs online. A former Didsbury Imam briefly mentioned one at the inquiry, criticising the mosque’s administration for allowing extremists to attend.
Reda Nasuf, the son of Taher Nasuf, was a member of the Didsbury Mosque and died in a conflict abroad. The BBC has also seen posts lauding Reda, who died in conflict abroad and was a member of the Didsbury Mos His father was known to British authorities as he was sanctioned by the United Nations for alleged ties to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group for years. He was a member of the Libyan 17 February Forum, a legal political group that met at the mosque; Salman Abedi attended one of its demonstrations in London and was captured on camera smiling during a speech by Mr Nasuf.
Five families who lost loved ones in the Manchester attack told the BBC that they are “disappointed to learn of additional terrorist ties in Abedi’s background that do not appear to have been investigated.” Given MI5’s extensive knowledge of the Abedi family, they are critical of the agency.
This week, a public inquiry into the Manchester Arena attack will report on the radicalization of bomber Salman Abedi and whether security services missed opportunities to prevent him. MI5 suspected Mansour Al-Anezi, a Muslim preacher who was close to Abedi, of being a radicalizer more than a decade before the public hearings, according to information obtained by the BBC. MI5 monitored Al-Anezi at the Plymouth mosque where he preached and gathered intelligence on his activities.
According to evidence gathered by the BBC, Al-Anezi used multiple aliases, and his real name may have been entirely different. During a later immigration case, Al-Anezi acknowledged that his views had prompted concern and that some worshippers had lodged complaints. Al-belongings Anezi’s were discovered in the Abedi family residence in Manchester after the bombing.
The investigation has also considered other possible influences on Salman Abedi, such as his time at the Didsbury Mosque in Manchester. Before the Arena bombing, the BBC discovered that two other young men who attended the mosque died in conflict abroad and were hailed as martyrs online. A former Didsbury Imam briefly mentioned one at the inquiry, criticising the mosque’s administration for allowing extremists to attend. Reda Nasuf, the son of Taher Nasuf, was a member of the Didsbury Mosque and died in a conflict abroad. The BBC has also seen posts lauding Reda, who died in conflict abroad and was a member of the Didsbury Mos His father was known to British authorities as he was sanctioned by the United Nations for alleged ties to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group for years.
Five families who lost loved ones in the Manchester attack told the BBC that they are “disappointed to learn of additional terrorist ties in Abedi’s background that do not appear to have been investigated.” Given how much MI5 knew about the Abedi family, they are critical of the service and state, “if there is enough information in the public domain for the press to make these connections, then we would have expected the government to do the same and investigate thoroughly.”
