Infamous hate preacher Anjem Choudary, known for leading a terror group, is accused of inspiring a prison attack which was carried out by Hashem Abedi at HMP Frankland
A notorious extremist preacher may have inspired the attack on three prison cops in Manchester on the weekend, sources have claimed. Anjem Choudary, 58, who radicalised Islamist extremists, including the killers of soldier Lee Rigby, is accused of influencing the attack which was carried out by Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi.
The hate preacher used to be banged up in the same segregation unit as Abedi at HMP Frankland in County Durham. On Saturday, Abedi hurled melted butter over a female officer before he brutally stabbed two male workers with makeshift weapons.
Hate preacher Anjem Choudary’s horrific terrorist videos still available online
The crazed inmate slashed one officer in the neck and stabbed the other one five times in the back and punctured his lung. All three workers were rushed to hospital, where the two male officers remain with serious injuries.
The female officer has since been released after undergoing treatment for a third-degree burn.
A source earlier said: “Abedi was completely silent and grinning as he carried out the attack. There is no doubt he wanted to kill and it is miraculous they all survived. But he was acting like a silent assassin.”
According to sources, prison officers suspect that Choudary could have encouraged Abedi to launch the stabbing frenzy.
It is believed that counter-terror police plan to question Choudary about the attack.
Abedi is serving a 55-year minimum sentence for his involvement in his brother Salman’s 2017 suicide bomb which killed 22 people.
A source told The Sun: “Choudary had become a leader of the unit and the younger extremists like Abedi looked up to him. There are suspicions that Abedi colluded with others.”
It has been reported that prison guards had previously picked-up on concerns over Choudary’s influence in the unit – which has been described as a prison within a prison.
He is currently serving time behind bars for a minimum of 28-years for leading a banned extremist group. Choudary is thought to be one of the most important radicalisers in the UK.
He was in the gym at the time of the prison attack on the weekend, according to sources.
