Leaked lecture recordings reveal embattled Bristol professor David Miller labelling Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi “effectively an asset of the British state”. 

While discussing counter-terror policy, Prof Miller said Mr Abedi was “taken to Libya by the British, the British allowed him to go to Libya,” and that this “illustrates blowback in the most extraordinary way for the government.”

Mr Abedi returned from Libya in 2014 after fighting for an Islamist group. Three years later he detonated a homemade bomb at the Manchester Arena, killing 23. 

Prof Miller’s comments came during a lecture on ‘state terror’.

In reference to the Syrian Civil War, he said: “The government have supported the moderate armed opposition…

“In other countries Britain is supporting [Islamic terrorism] while opposing it here.”

The controversial professor of sociology also mentioned 2015 reports from Turkish pro-government media outlets that a British spy helped to smuggle British schoolgirls, including Shamima Begum, into Syria. 

Women who wanted to join Isis were “escorted across the border by British intelligence,” said Prof Miller, “for who knows what purpose we can only guess.”

“Never believe what the government says without thinking it through,” he added.

Prof Miller may be set to face a hearing as early as next week after being under investigation since March.

These new revelations come after a turbulent few weeks for the academic. 

The Union of Jewish Students demanded that the University of Bristol “stand with and protect” Jewish students after it was revealed that Prof Miller was due to teach two modules in the coming academic year.

Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Antisemitism have both called on the university to act. 

The APPG said in a letter to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor it “beggars belief” that an official investigation into “racist” comments made by Prof Miller remains uncompleted.

Prof Miller has been contacted for comment.