The younger brother of Manchester terror attack has been arrested in Tripoli on suspicion of links with terror group Islamic State.
According to a local counter-terrorism force spokesperson, known as Rada, the person has been identified as Hashem Abedi, who was born in 1997.
“Hashem Abedi had been in touch with attacker Salman Abedi,” spokesman Ahmed Bin Salem said.
"We have evidence that he is involved in Daesh (Islamic State) with his brother. We have been following him for more than one month and a half. He was in contact with his brother and he knew about the attack," Salem added.
Media reports claimed that father of the attacker, identified as Ramadan Abedi, has also been arrested.
Salman Abedi (22) was born in Britain to Libyan parents. Britain's Interior Minister said earlier that he had recently returned from Libya and had likely not acted alone.
The Associated Press reported that Ramadan claiming his son was innocent and just had been preparing to go on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
“We don’t believe in killing innocents. This is not us. We aren’t the ones who blow up ourselves among innocents. We go to mosques. We recite Quran, but not that,” the 51-year-old, also known by his nom de guerre of Abu Ismail, said.
At least 22 people died and nearly 120 were wounded in the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
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