Dad of alleged Manchester bomber says his son is innocent

A sign is seen with flowers and candles after a vigil in Albert Square, Manchester, the day after the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert that left 22 people dead as it ended. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

A sign is seen with flowers and candles after a vigil in Albert Square, Manchester, the day after the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert that left 22 people dead as it ended. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Published May 24, 2017

Share

London - The father of the alleged Manchester arena attacker denies his son is linked to militants or the suicide bombing that killed 22 people.

Ramadan Abedi says he spoke to his 22-year-old son, Salman Abedi, five days ago and he was getting ready to visit Saudi Arabia and sounded "normal."

He said that his son visited Libya a month-and-a -half ago.

The elder Abedi told The Associated Press by telephone from Tripoli: "We don't believe in killing innocents. This is not us."

He said his other son, Ismail, was arrested in England on Tuesday morning.

He said Salman was planning to head from Saudi Arabia to Libya to spend the holy month of Ramadan with family.

Abedi fled Tripoli in 1993 after Moammar Gadhafi's security authorities issued an arrest warrant and eventually sought political asylum in Britain.

Now, he is the administrative manager of the Central Security force in Tripoli.

AP

Related Topics: