Key dates in the three years since the Manchester Arena terror attack

Credit: Press Association

It was a night which sent shockwaves through Manchester, across the UK and around the world.

At 10.31pm on May 22 2017, Salman Abedi, a locally born-and-raised 22-year-old of Libyan descent, slaughtered 22 victims and injured hundreds of others when he detonated his suicide bomb at Manchester Arena, aided by his younger brother Hashem Abedi back in Libya.

Here are some of the key dates following the attack.

Hashem Abedi and his brother, the suicide bomber Salman Abedi Credit: ITV Granada

  • May 22 2017: Salman Abedi detonates his rucksack bomb in the foyer at Manchester Arena, murdering 22 bystanders.

  • May 23: Hashem is detained by militia in Libya and allegedly subjected to torture.

  • June 16: Hashem claims he is mistreated "most days" from his arrest to his "confession" signed with a fingerprint.

  • November 1: A formal extradition request is submitted by UK authorities.

  • April 10 2019: The Court of Appeal in Tripoli orders Hashem's extradition.

  • July 17: Hashem is extradited back to the UK.

  • July 30: Hashem is interviewed and provides a prepared statement denying involvement in the bombing and radicalisation, saying there was an innocent explanation.

  • February 4 2020: The prosecution case at the Old Bailey is opened by Duncan Penny QC.

  • March 10: Hashem declines to give evidence in his defence.

  • March 17: The jury unanimously convicts Hashem of all 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder encompassing the remaining injured, and one count of conspiring with suicide bomber brother Salman Abedi to cause explosions.

  • March 30: The public inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing is postponed for three months because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

  • April 7: The inquiry is delayed again until September 7.

  • April 21: Arena survivors are told they will not be legally represented at the inquiry after being refused core participant status.