In the third volume of Manchester Arena Inquiry Report, Sir John Saunders revealed he found that MI5 had missed an opportunity that might have prevented the terror attack taking place and that Salman Abedi should have been referred to anti-terror programme Prevent.
22 people died and hundreds were injured at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017 when Salman Abedi set off a bomb just as people were leaving the concert.
An officer in MI5 admitted they considered raising a possible pressing national security concern regarding a piece of intelligence on Islamist terrorist Salman Abedi but did not discuss it with colleagues immediately, and did not write up a report on the same day which led to a missed opportunity on the part of MI5 in preventing the attack.
In his Inquiry Report, Sir John Saunders said: “The delay in providing the report led to the missing of an opportunity to take a potentially important investigative action.
“Based on everything the Security Service knew or should have known, I am satisfied that such an investigative action would have been a proportionate and justified step to take. This should have happened.”
In response, MI5 Chief stated: “Gathering covert intelligence is difficult – but had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma. I am profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack…”
MI5 failed to identify risks
The terrorist was already on the radar of MI5 when he became a subject of interest (SOI) because he had been in phone contact with another SOI – but his case was closed four months later when he was deemed “low risk”.
Abedi was identified as being in direct contact with three SOIs between December 2013 and January 2017.
MI5, whose agents were monitoring Abedi for years before the attack, came into possession of two pieces of information about him that they decided did not relate to terrorism.
Sir John Saunders, said having heard from MI5 witnesses at the hearings for the inquiry, that their assessment did not present an “accurate” picture.
Abedi’s name also hit a “priority indicator” during a separate “data-washing exercise” as falling within a small number of former SOIs who merited further consideration. A meeting to consider the results was scheduled for 31 May 2017, unfortunately nine days after the bombing.
“MI5 have got blood on their hands!”
Andrew Roussos, father of victim Saffie-Rose, 8, spoke out ahead of the release of the final report on the terror attack, and told Sky News: “They know the threat, they know what these people do and don’t do, they know where to look and not to look, and they were more prepared than what Manchester was that night – so MI5, for me, have got blood on their hands.”
Mr Roussos added: “I want them to admit that with all the signs and what they knew about this family and Salman Abedi that they let it slip through the cracks, because they did.”
Caroline Curry, the mother of victim Liam Curry, said: “From top to bottom – MI5 to the associates of the attacker. We will always believe that you played a part in the murder of our children”.
Lisa Rutherford, whose teenage son and daughter Liam and Chloe both died, said: “We’ve sat through eight weeks at the Old Bailey and over two years here at the inquiry. We’ve read countless statements, listened to hours of evidence, and we can only hope that one day the whole truth will come out and others, including the fugitive brother and parents, face justice.
“Because we will never believe they were in this alone. Forgiveness will never be an option for such evil intentions and those that played any part in the murder of our children will never, ever get forgiveness.”
(Source: LBC)
