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Families of those killed or injured in the Manchester Arena bombing have lashed out at a decision to make the taxpayer pay up to £10m to keep Hashem Abedi safe in prison.

This week Hashem, brother of Manchester Arena bomber, Salman Abedi who murdered 22 people, was sentenced to a minimum of 55 years in prison this week.

Hashem refused to leave his cell to face the families of his victims in court.

Now it has been revealed that it will cost £10million of taxpayers cash to keep him safe behind bars.

He is being kept under the highest level of protective custody after being threatened by inmates.

To keep a category A prisoner like him behind bars it can cost up to £87,000 a year, according to government figures, the Daily Mirror reports.

That means it would cost £5million to pay for Abedi’s minimum term but prices soar if a prisoner is kept under high security.

Families have now criticised the Govermment for charging the tax payer the jaw-dropping figure.

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Steve Howe, whose wife Alison, 45, was killed by the bomb, said: “It’s unbelievable. I think most British taxpayers would not want to pay for this. It’s a ridiculous amount.”

Alison, of Royton, Gtr Manchester, died while waiting in the arena foyer to collect her two teenage daughters, who both survived.

Steve, 64, added: “My daughters have been without their mum for three years.

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"We are never going to get over the loss of Alison.

“The police are going on like we should be over the moon about the verdict. I feel bitter about it.

“It won’t bring Alison back.”

Speaking in court, the judge said Abedi played an "integral part" in the planning and preparation of the attack at a concert where 14,000 people were in attendance.

• Crime

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