Hannah Nicole

Enough is enough: Open Letter from Manchester Arena Survivor Martin Hibbert to the Justice Secretary @ShabanaMahmood & @MoJGovUK My name is Martin Hibbert. I am a survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing, the devastating act of terror that changed my life forever on 22nd May 2017. I was 6 meters from the bomb when it exploded. My body was shattered. My life irreversibly altered. I have spent every single day since then trying to rebuild my life — physically, emotionally, and mentally. So you’ll understand why I am absolutely disgusted — beyond words — to learn that Hashem Abedi, a man who was found guilty of playing a key role in that heinous attack, has somehow been given the comfort and privilege of kitchen access in prison. Let’s call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist. Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him — he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons. Boiling oil. Homemade weapons. Again. This is not the first time he’s attacked guards. How many more times does this need to happen before you take meaningful action? This is a man convicted of being involved in the murder of 22 innocent people, including children. How is it remotely acceptable that he has access to anything that could pose a danger — to staff, to other inmates, or to the principles of justice itself? I was led to believe that people like him — mass murderers, terrorists — would face a regime of strict control and zero comfort. I was told justice would be served. What I see now is not justice. It’s a shameful lack of accountability and basic prison security. I’m not just angry. I’m broken by this. And I am furious that the pain of survivors like me is being so blatantly disrespected by your inaction. This cannot continue. Something drastic needs to be done. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now. Review his prison privileges. Strip him of any access to areas where he can make or find weapons. Protect your staff. Protect the memory of those we lost. Respect those who survived. Because right now, it feels like you’ve forgotten us. Martin Hibbert Manchester Arena Survivor