LIBYA HAS EXTRADITED the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi to the UK.

Hashem Abedi, the younger brother of the man responsible for 22 deaths at the arena in May 2017, was arrested in Libya soon after the attack.

A Libyan court agreed to extradite Abedi, who is a British citizen, but due to conflict in the country this was delayed.

Abedi was extradited on a flight which left Mitiga Airport this morning at 10.30am British time.

He had been anded over to British officials and then flown to Britain where he was arrested for murder, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

“He has today been successfully extradited for offences relating to the Manchester Arena attack,” it said.

Asked about the arrest, British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was “an important moment in the investigation.

“I hope it is a welcome step for the loved ones of all the victims,” she said, condemning the “appalling” and “senseless” attack.

Manchester police said Abedi was also being arrested for attempted murder and “conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life”.

He is expected to appear in a London court tomorrow.

There were 22 people killed in the bombing at the arena where Ariane Grande was performing, seven of whom were under the age of 18. Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos was the youngest victim. 

A further 112 people were injured in the attack. 

- With reporting from AFP.