The elder brother of the Manchester Arena bombers has had his bid for immunity from prosecution rejected.
Ismail Abedi wanted a promise from the Attorney General that in return for answering questions at the public inquiry into the terror attack, his evidence would not 'land him in the dock,' his lawyer told the hearing in Manchester last month.
A legal application was made to Sir John Saunders, chairman of the inquiry, asking him to consider making the application to the Attorney General in return for Abedi's co-operation.
However in his ruling, Sir John refused the application and said allowing immunity to get Abedi to co-operate could outweigh any evidence he gave which might justify charges of murder against him over the deaths in the bombing.
Images from devices recovered at Ismail Abedi's home during a police raid the day after the bombing indicated he was 'sympathetic to the ideals of ISIS, the inquiry has heard.
He was arrested, held for 14 days and interviewed by detectives 25 times but not charged with any offence through insufficient evidence.
Lawyers for the families of the 22 people murdered in May 2017 were divided over allowing Abedi immunity to get him to co-operate and answer questions, with others who opposed the move describing it as 'unconscionable'.
Mr Abedi is expected to be served with a legal notice soon which will 'require' his attendance in person at the inquiry, sitting in Manchester.
Hashem Abedi was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 55 years before parole for his part in the bomb plot.
