Manchester bomber left Istanbul airport before concert attack

The suspect responsible for the suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena transited through an Istanbul airport before the Monday attack.

ANKARA, Turkey (Kurdistan24) – According to a Turkish official, the suspect responsible for the suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena transited through Istanbul's main airport before the Monday attack.

Speaking to AFP, the unnamed official said 22-year-old suicide bomber Salman Abedi left Istanbul for Manchester.

“I can confirm that he transited through Istanbul Ataturk airport,” he said.

He added no information was shared with Turkey concerning Abedi ahead of his arrival in Istanbul from Libya.

The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility following the attack which killed 22 people and injured over 50 others at a pop concert.

Abedi grew up in a Libyan family who fled to Manchester to escape the then rule of Muammar Gaddafi.

The 22-year-old had traveled to Manchester from Libya four days before the bombing, according to AFP.

German police claim Abedi had a short stopover at the Dusseldorf Airport where he changed planes.

Istanbul is a regular transit point for those flying from Libya to Europe due to a shortage of direct flights from Libyan cities to most destinations.

Meanwhile, a Libyan security source on Thursday revealed Abedi’s father was once part of a militant group with ties to al-Qaeda.

Ramadan Abedi was targeted by Gaddafi’s government for ties to the group before finding refuge in Britain, according to British media.

A Tripoli-based police force had arrested Ramadan and another one of his sons after the Monday attack, according to the security source.

“The investigation is ongoing, and he is still being questioned by the relevant services,” the source informed. “I cannot give more details.”

 

Editing by G. H. Renaud