Manchester reacts as Hashem Abedi is sentenced to 55 years in prison
Hashem Abedi got 55 years for his role in the Manchester Arena attacks. The city of Manchester, shaken to the core by that horrific night more than three years ago, has now responded to the verdict.
Salman Abedi claimed 22 lives when he detonated a bomb at Manchester Arena in 2017. But he didn’t act alone.
His brother Hashem, who lived in Fallowfield, helped him plan the attack and assemble the explosive.
Yesterday the 23-year-old was locked up for his role in the mass murder at the Ariana Grande concert.
Abedi, who refused to leave his cell for sentencing at the Old Bailey, was given a minimum of 55 years – with the court previously hearing he was “just as guilty” as his sibling.
He may never be released.
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The city of Manchester, shaken to the core by that horrific night more than three years ago, has now responded to the verdict.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, called the attack an act of “pure evil”.
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“We said at the time that we would do whatever we could to ensure those responsible were brought to justice and it is a relief that it has finally happened,” the Mayor commented.
“Today we think first of the families who lost loved-ones and everyone whose lives were changed forever by this appalling crime.”
He added: “This attack on our city and everything it represents caused untold misery. But ultimately it failed. It was meant to divide us but it only brought us closer together. And now one of those responsible is behind bars.”
Manchester City Council leader, Sir Richard Leese, also spoke out following Abedi’s sentencing.
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He said that “no sentence can ever truly reflect the magnitude of the crime, but I hope that Hasehm Abedi being locked up for life will provide some measure of comfort for those who lost loved ones and everyone else affected.”
Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins, said the sentence will “not bring closure” for families of the victims, but “it may ease the pain” to know that Abedi will spent the a large part of his life in his prison cell.
The police chief also commended the support from the British Government and CPS for their work in extraditing Abedi from Libya, where he was at the time of the attacks, to face trial and prosecution.
Given how Abedi was under the age of 21 at the time of the attack, a whole life order was not possible by law.
However, the 55-year minimum term he received is also the longest ever issued by a court in UK legal history.
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Snoop Dogg says he wants to replace Gregg Wallace on MasterChef – and so do we
Danny Jones
With Gregg Wallace having been axed from MasterChef, one man has put himself forward to replace the long-standing presenter: Snoop Dogg.
Make that Snoop ‘Doggy’ Dogg, esquire and all-round foodie fancy pants, to you.
No, as we often feel we have to clarify sometimes, we’re not joking – the rapper and hip-hop legend apparently is very keen on the idea of becoming the next co-host of UK MasterChef.
It also goes without saying that we will never EVER get bored of writing headlines like these.
Speaking to The Mirror, the 53-year-old music icon said, “You’ll best believe You better believe Snoop could be the new MasterChef judge.”
According to Snoop, his time working on Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party with well-known American cook, food writer and TV personality Martha Stewart means he already has prior experience and he also believes he has the backing of another big culinary name.
“My boy Gordon [Ramsay] judges on the US version of the show, and I know he would back me to be able to judge on the UK version”, he told the outlet, going on to add: “He knows I am not playing when it comes to food. He knows I can cook – I have even given him some tips.
“I hosted a cooking show over here and I have always been vocal about wanting to work on a UK show. I love the place – and for real, this could be the perfect opportunity.”
His bid to join the BBC show might be less likely than many others, but we’ve already seen how well getting familiar entertainment faces on works for the Celebrity version of the show, not to mention juicing up the comedy with less serious analysis as seen on Channel 4’s rebrand of The Great British Bake Off.
You can see a selection of Snoop’s on-screen cooking highlights here.
As for the latest on Wallace, he is still officially denying being involved in any inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature on the show and various other TV projects, with a total of 13 people filing official historical complaints against the long-standing host over the course of a 17-year period.
The 60-year-old is now accused not only of sexual comments in the workplace but groping and touching multiple former contestants and colleagues.
Despite sticking to his official position he has, however, come out to apologise for a response video he made following the second raft of allegations, in which his comments were deemed offensive and misogynistic by a Downing Street official.
We’re confident we already know the answer, so we’ll ask you this instead: just how much do you want to see Snoop Dogg presenting the next series of MasterChef?
Keely Hodgkinson, Sarah Storey, Luke Littler and more shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Danny Jones
The North West and Greater Manchester specifically have notched multiple nods ahead of the year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
2023’s recipient Mary Earps had local ties as Manchester United Women’s no.1 and this year even more Manc names or those associated with the city have been named on the shortlist of nominees.
Following standout performances at Paris 2024, native Olympic and Paralympic athletes Keely Hodgkinson and Dame Sarah Storey have both earned a place among this year’s frontrunners, as well as Warrington-born dart sensation Luke Littler, whose breakthrough year sparked a phenomenon.
That’s three of the top six from our region alone. Get in.
Here are the nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024!
⭐ Jude Bellingham ⭐ Keely Hodgkinson ⭐ Luke Littler ⭐ Joe Root ⭐ Sarah Storey ⭐ Alex Yee
Atherton-born Hodgkinson, still only 22, earned her first-ever Olympic gold back in the summer and her first thought wasn’t to celebrate and put her feet but go and smash the world record next time. Big murals were erected in her honour both in Manchester city centre and back over Wigan way.
Dame Sarah Storey’s career is one that has long deserved much more recognition, notching medal after medal first in swimming and now in cycling, with no sign of slowing down even at 47. An inspiration to any aspiring athlete, let alone one with an impairment, and was rightly given special recognition by MMU earlier this year.
And Luke Littler’s story needs very little explanation: the 16-year-old with ability way beyond his year that he helped draw an entirely new crowd to the world of darts, winning multiple titles in his first year as a so-called ‘senior’ player on the pro tour. If we’re talking strictly personality, he’s got plenty of that too.
Others shortlisted included England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, England’s record run-scorer Test cricketer Joe Root, as well Olympic triathlete Alex Yee. We also think this man should be on the list again but his time will come, we’re certain of it.
And he’s done it! Kevin Sinfield has completed Day 7 of his Ultra marathon challenge in memory of his friend and rugby league legend Rob Burrow & the whole #MND community. pic.twitter.com/3vnjuVKXg9
The 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year takes place on Tuesday, 17 December, with voting taking place during the show which will be broadcast on BBC One and online via BBC iPlayer.
The programme – once again presented by Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Clare Balding from over in MediaCityUK, Salford Quays – will begin at 7pm and conclude around 9pm after the winner is announced.
Who do you think should win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024?