Manchester Arena bomber's brother appears in court accused of murdering 22 people

File photo of the scene close to the Manchester Arena the morning after the terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.

Hashem Abedi, now 22, was allegedly involved in planning the suicide attack on May 22, 2017.

His brother Salman Abedi, 22, detonated an explosive vest as music fans left an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring 260 more.

Five people from the North East were among those who died.

Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry who were killed in the Manchester Arena bomb attack in 2017

They were; Chloe Rutherford, 17, and boyfriend Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields; Hartlepool born Jane Tweddle, 51; and Philip Tron, 32, and his partner’s daughter Courtney Boyle, 19, from Gateshead.

Before the attack the defendant, who was raised in Manchester, left Britain and travelled to Libya.

He was arrested in Tripoli and extradited to the UK in July last year, to face 22 charges of murder, one count for each victim.

Hashem Abedi also faces a single count of attempted murder, representing all the other victims, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

On Monday he appeared at the Old Bailey for the start of his trial.

The defendant, wearing a dark blue shirt over a white t-shirt, dark blue jeans and black rimmed glasses, spoke only to confirm his identity.

Previously he has denied all the charges against him.

The case, which is due to last eight weeks, was adjourned until Wednesday.

Loved ones of the victims will be able to hear the evidence in Court Two of London's Central Criminal Court, or by special video links.