Abedi charged with attempting to murder prison officers in ambush

Hashem Abedi, the 28 year old convicted over the Manchester Arena bombing plot, appeared via video link at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday charged with attempting to murder three prison officers and with other offences arising from an alleged ambush at a maximum security jail on April 12. The hearing, conducted from HMP Belmarsh with Abedi flanked by five prison officers in protective gear, set a next appearance at the Old Bailey on October 17.

Court documents and reporting say Abedi faces three counts of attempted murder after four prison officers were injured during the incident at HMP Frankland in County Durham. Three officers were taken to hospital, according to those reports. He also faces one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of unauthorised possession of a knife or offensive weapon. He was not required to enter pleas at Friday's brief hearing.

Prison staff and union representatives described the April incident as a planned ambush. The Prison Officers Association said the officers sustained life threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in what it called an unprovoked and vicious attack. Reports allege the officers were...