Claim that Manchester Arena bombing was staged is absurd, judge rules

The judge said he made the early decision because Richard Hall would “use the trial as a vehicle to advance and test his staged attack hypothesis”.

Flowers are left in Manchester in memory of the people who died in the bombing (Martin Rickett/PA)

A claim that the Manchester Arena bombing was staged by government agencies and did not kill or injure anyone is “absurd and fantastical”, a judge at the High Court has ruled.

Martin and Eve Hibbert are bringing legal action against Richard Hall for harassment, misuse of private information and data protection.