The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi was today charged with 22 murders after arriving in London following his extradition from Libya.

Hashem Abedi, 22, was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life after landing at an airport.

Hashem, who is now being held in a police custody suite, was allegedly involved in the bomb which killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

Prime Minister Theresa May said today: 'This is clearly an important moment in the investigation. I hope it is a welcome step for the loved ones of all the victims.'

Greater Manchester Police said Hashem Abedi will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court at 10am on Thursday.

Hashem Abedi is pictured after his arrest in Tripoli. Britain requested the extradition in 2017

Mrs May praised the relatives and friends of the victims who had 'commanded themselves with such dignity through what has been a deeply distressing and difficult time for them' as they searched for justice.

She added: 'I want to thank all of those who have worked so hard to come to this point and no doubt will continue to work hard.

'What we all now need to see is that all involved in this case are able to see that case progress and that case brought to the courts.'

Hashem was made the subject of an extradition request by the British authorities in November 2017 after Greater Manchester Police issued an arrest warrant.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'The extradition of Hashem Abedi is an important step forward in the investigation into the Manchester Arena attack. It's important we now let the law take its full course.

'My thoughts remain with the victims and their families who have endured so much. I would also like to pay tribute to the continued efforts of the dedicated police officers and all others who have worked tirelessly on this case.'

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: 'Thanks to the Libyan authorities for their close cooperation on the successful extradition of Hashem Abedi.

'The Manchester attack was horrific; whoever is found responsible for this great evil must face justice. It is right that Abedi will now face criminal proceedings in the UK.'

And Security Minister Ben Wallace added: 'I am pleased that the extradition of Hashem Abedi to the UK has been completed.

Hashem Abedi (left) is the brother of Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi (right)

'It has been a huge effort by the police, Foreign Office and Home Office to ensure that the law can take its course. My thanks to the Libyan authorities for their support.

Salman Abedi, 22, from Manchester, detonated his device at the end of the gig

'Today my thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester Arena attacks and I can assure them that we will not rest until justice is done.'

The force's chief constable Ian Hopkins said at a press conference today: 'Since the Manchester Arena attack on May 22, 2017, our thoughts have been with the families of those who lost loved ones and the hundreds who are struggling with serious physical injuries and deep psychological effects. They have always been central to our investigation and will continue to be so at all times.

'I am now able to say that, following application by the Crown Prosecution Service for the extradition of Hashem Abedi from Libya, he has today been successfully extradited, for offences relating to the Manchester Arena attack.'

He added: 'He was handed over by Libyan authorities to British police officers this morning. They escorted him on the flight back and he landed in the UK a short while ago.'

Police officers help people caught up in the horrifying blast at Manchester Arena in May 2017

The UK government requested his extradition in October 2017 from the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli, but the high-level negotiations stalled.

Victims (top row left to right) Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, 8, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, (second row left to right) Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, (third row left to right), Chloe Rutherford,17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, and Philip Tron, 32, (fourth row left to right) John Atkinson, 26, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, (fifth row left to right) Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 43 (fifth row left to right) Wendy Fawell, 50 and Jane Tweddle, 51

As recently as April this year, the extradition of Hashem was set back indefinitely by fresh fighting in Libya and put on hold 'until the conflict is over'.

In July last year, it emerged that Hashem had apparently told family he was afraid of extradition to Britain and scared about being put on trial.

In May 2018, Libyan judicial sources speculated that Hashem's opposition to being extradited could have held weight because he has joint Libyan citizenship.

In August 2014, three years before the attack, Hashem and Salman were rescued by the Navy from war-torn Libya and taken to Malta for a flight to Britain.

The pair had been caught up in fighting in Libya and were among more than 100 British citizens taken to safety after being rescued by HMS Enterprise.

After being dropped in Malta, Hashem and Salman, who was on a gap year from Manchester College, flew back to Manchester where they were living.

The Abedi brothers shuttled back and forth between Manchester and Tripoli because their parents - Ramadan and Samia - had returned to Libya.

Ramadan is thought to have gone back in time for the 2011 revolution, allegedly fighting against the Gaddafi regime with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

It is not certain whether the two brothers were with their father at the time of the revolution or instead in neighbouring Tunisia.

But they were on holiday in Libya in August 2014 when civil war fighting broke out and British officials offered to evacuate UK citizens.

Salman, 22, from Manchester, whose family settled in the UK from Libya, detonated his device at the end of the pop concert.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins (pictured in 2017) gave the news about Hasham's arrest today

Progress on holding the inquests has been held up as they cannot be heard before the conclusion of any criminal investigation and possible trial of any suspects.

Family members of the victims were told at a pre-inquest hearing that the full inquests would not likely begin until April 2020 at the earliest.

Details published by the Tripoli-based Special Deterrence Force (Rada) two days after Hashem's arrest in Libya claimed Hashem was born in Manchester and was a university engineering student in the city.

The Tripoli government is currently seeking Western support as it battles forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, a veteran Libyan general who launched an offensive against the capital in April.

The Special Deterrence Force is one of several militias loosely aligned with the government that are battling Hifter's forces.

Libya slid into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi and has become a haven for armed groups.