Victim Support responds to the brother of Manchester Arena bomber sentencing

20 August 2020

Hashem Abedi, brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, has today been sentenced for life over the murder of 22 people at Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert in 2017.

Since the Manchester Arena attack took place, we have worked with 770 people affected by the event. To this day, victims, witnesses and their family members continue to come forward for ongoing support.

Chief Executive of Victim Support, Diana Fawcett, said:

If you witness a traumatic incident, it is vital not to minimise your experience. Even if you have not been physically injured, serious incidents can leave you with lasting symptoms such as sleeplessness, anxiety and depression.

“We know that this may be a very difficult time for many, as the news of the verdict can re-trigger the trauma experienced.

“We urge anybody affected by the Manchester bombing to access our confidential, 24-hour Supportline (08 08 16 89 111) for immediate support. Callers can be referred onto local community services and our support workers are specially trained to respond to the very specific needs of those affected. Support is available for as long as you need to help you to cope and recover from the incident.”

Victim Support are encouraging victims, witnesses and their families who feel affected by the media coverage to contact us.

Any victim or witness of the terror attack can access free, confidential support through Victim Support’s 24-hour Supportline: 08 08 16 89 11.