Salman Abedi killed 22 people when he exploded a nail bomb at the Manchester Arena (Picture: Rex)

Councils and funeral directors in Manchester are reportedly refusing to handle the body of Salman Abedi – with his corpse being kept at a morgue outside of the city where he killed 22 people last week.

According to the Manchester Evening News, authorities are doing ‘everything in their power’ to prevent his being buried or cremated in Greater Manchester, after the 23-year-old blew himself up in the foyer of Manchester Arena.

The determined move comes only weeks after funeral directors refused to deal with the remains of Moors Murderer Ian Brady – who wanted his ashes to be spread in Glasgow.

A source disclosed to the Manchester Evening News: ‘Just like Ian Brady, every effort is going in to making sure that there is not a chance Abedi can be buried or cremated in Greater Manchester.’

It is believed that Abedi’s body is currently being held by a coroner, ahead of an inquest hearing and a final decision on when his remains will be released.

His parents, Ramadan and Samia, cannot receive his body as they are in Libya.

His father remains in custody in the country.

View photos Caught on camera – bomber Salman Abedi just hours before he detonated a bomb at the Manchester Arena (Picture: PA) More

Abedi’s brother, Ismail, 24, remains in custody in Manchester in connection with the attack.

The latest development comes after counter-terrorism police revealed that Abedi may have acted alone – after buying most of the bomb components and building it by himself.

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Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said:

‘Our enquiries show Abedi himself made most of the purchases of the core components. Many of his movements and actions have been carried out alone during the four days from him landing in the country and committing this awful attack.

‘It is vital that we make sure that he is not part of a wider network and we cannot rule this out yet. There remain a number of things that concern us.’