Parsons Green Tube bomber calls judge 'evil man' while in court accused of attacking prison officer

Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan called a judge an ‘evil man’ when he appeared in court today accused of assaulting a prison officer in Belmarsh jail.

Hassan, 21, and Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi, 23, are charged with assaulting prison officer Paul Edwards at the maximum-security prison in Woolwich last May.

Abedi, Hassan, and fellow inmate Muhammed Saeed, 23, snuck into an office and attacked Mr Edwards as he sat at his desk, it is alleged.

Abedi is also accused of assaulting an emergency worker in the same incident.

Abedi did not appear at Woolwich Crown Court but Hassan appeared via video-link from HMP Frankland in County Durham with a short beard wearing a grey polo neck jumper.

A court artist sketch of Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi (right) and Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan (left), who have been charged over the attack of a prison officer

Ahmed Hassan was convicted of attempted murder in 2018 and sentenced to 34 years in jail

He did not reply to any questions and muttered to himself while looking away from the camera.

When Judge Michael Evans, QC, asked him if he had any questions Hassan replied: ‘I hate you very much, you are an evil man.’

Saeed appeared via video link from HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire wearing a salwar kameez with a red scarf over his head.

Before the hearing formally started, Saeed entered his video booth smiling and greeting Hassan over the link, saying: ‘Yes Hassan, salaam my brother.

‘I wrote you a letter but the prison took it.’

The defendants are yet to formally enter pleas to the charges but Judge Michael Evans QC set a date of December 6 for what is expected to be a two-week trial. 

Mr Edwards received cuts to his head and bruising, and was also kicked. He has ongoing hearing problems as a result of the attack at Belmarsh (pictured), the court heard

All three were remanded into custody ahead of a formal plea hearing on July 12.

Earlier Nicholas Alexander, prosecuting, said: ‘They had a period of time out of the cells and on their return back to the cells they took the opportunity of entering into an office where the prison officer Edwards was seated at the desk.

‘The three defendants proceeded to assault Mr Edwards.

‘Other prison officers went into the office as quickly as they could to pull the three defendants off Mr Edwards.’

Mr Alexander said the officer sustained lacerations to the top of his scalp, bruising, and a blow to the side of his ear that has caused permanent auditory loss.

Abedi is also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker, related to a second officer Nick Barnett in the same incident.

Abedi, 24, Hassan, 21, and 23-year-old Muhammed Saeed (pictured left to right), were out of their cells when they entered an office and assaulted Paul Edwards, a court heard

He was jailed for a minimum of 55 years last August for murdering 22 men, women and children attending an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

Abedi had acted as the quartermaster for his brother Salman, 22, who blew himself up in the foyer of the arena.

Hassan detonated a bomb in Parsons Green injuring 51 people in 2017.

He was convicted of attempted murder at the Old Bailey in 2018 and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum jail term of 34 years.

Saeed, from Old Trafford, Manchester, last year admitted five counts of possessing terrorist material and awaits sentence.

All three were remanded in custody.