Overview

• Hashem Abedi, serving a 55-year minimum sentence for the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, attacked three prison officers at HMP Frankland on April 12, 2025, causing severe injuries.
• The Ministry of Justice has suspended inmate kitchen access in separation and close supervision units and launched an independent security review in response to the attack.
• Abedi has been transferred to high-security HMP Belmarsh in London, where he will be under heightened restrictions to prevent further incidents.
• Survivors, including Martin Hibbert, and victims’ families have publicly condemned the attack as a 'catastrophic failure' and called for permanent solitary confinement for Abedi.
• Counter Terrorism Policing North East is leading the investigation into the assault, while prison staff unions demand stronger measures to protect officers and address systemic security gaps.