Theresa May told to demand that arrested brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi faces justice in Britain

THERESA May faced urgent calls last night to ensure a Manchester Arena terror attack suspect faces justice in Britain.

It was announced yesterday that the arrested brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi will go on trial in Libya this year.

The wartorn country’s chief prosecutor declared Hashem Abedi, 20, played a “key role” in helping his brother build the device for the atrocity that left 22 dead in May.

The Tripoli legal chief told the BBC: “All the signs point to Hashem being directly involved, assisting his brother and collecting the materials for the suicide bombing”.

But Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called on the PM to step in.

The former Labour Cabinet minister wants Mrs May to extradite the alleged accomplice to help bring closure to the atrocity’s hundreds of victims here.

Mr Burnham said: “I have grave concerns about reports that a trial may take place in Libya.

“This was an appalling attack on our city and any trial conducted thousands of miles from Manchester would in no way represent justice for all those who have been affected.”

He added: “I am today calling on the Prime Minister and the Government to do everything within their power to make sure that this is what happens”.

British police said after the attack that Abedi did not act alone and they wanted to speak to his younger brother.

Hashem had left Britain for Libya on April 16 this year, a month before the attack in Manchester, according to Libyan sources.

Another male relative of the Abedi’s has also been held after his credit card was allegedly used to buy ingredients for the bomb, according to the Libyan authorities.

An extradition agreement between the UK and Libya had been agreed in 2009 but since the overthrow of General Gadaffi in 2011 the country has been split into warring factions.