News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Manchester Arena suicide bomber Salman Abedi visited a terror convict twice in prison before he carried out his massacre.

It is believed the authorities were aware of the terrorist's jailhouse meetings with fellow British-Libyan Abdal Raouf Abdallah.

Abdallah, left paralysed after being shot fighting against the Gadhafi regime in the 2011 uprising, was jailed for trying to help people travel to Syria to join jihadis.

Abedi, 22, visited Abdallah, 24, twice in the opening months of 2017 - attending HMP Altcourse in January and March, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The pair both grew up in the neighbouring Fallowfield and Moss Side areas of Manchester.

It is not known what their meetings are believed to have been about, nor if Greater Manchester Police believe their relationship had any link with the May 22 bombing which left 22 people dead and more than 100 injured.

The authorities would have known about Abedi’s presence at the prison as all visits and phone calls linked to Abdallah have to be approved by agencies including local counter-terror units.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

They are likely to have faced heavy scrutiny too, with staff allowed the capability to listen to inmates’ calls and check their communications.

Neither G4S, which runs HMP Altcourse, nor Greater Manchester Police would comment on the visits.

Abdallah is being held at the prison while he serves a five-and-a-half year term for terror offences.

(Image: Greater Manchester Police)

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

'

He was handed the sentence last year at Woolwich Crown Court after being found guilty of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism and engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism.

Abdallah, who uses a wheelchair, was convicted of trying to help foreign-born fighters reach Syria to join Islamic extremists.

Among the four people he was accused of supporting was Stephen Gray, an RAF veteran jailed for five years after twice attempting to join jihadists in Syria.