The conclusions of Sir John Saunders open report into the Manchester Arena terror attack makes it clear that there were significant missed opportunities by the security services
Saunders says the reasons for this include a “failure” by an MI5 officer to act swiftly enough and said that “opportunities to intervene were missed”, including finding the deadly explosives in the suicide bomber Salman Abedi’s car.
Communication breakdowns between MI5 and Counter Terrorism Police North West officers meant intelligence was not shared, and Sir John’s report added that the most important was the failure to act on two pieces of intelligence received in the months before the attack but did not detail what they were.
Had the information been shared, Abedi’s return to the UK from Libya four days before the attack would have been treated “extremely seriously by the Security Service”, he said.
Sir John added it “could have led to Abedi being followed to the Nissan Micra which contained the explosive”, which, he said, might have prevented the attack.
The inquiry also finds that bomber Salman Abedi probably received help from someone in Libya and found that there was “a period during Salman Abedi’s journey to violent extremism when he should have been referred” to the counter-extremism Prevent programme.
The time Salman Abedi and his brother Hashem Abedi spent in Libya likely included coming into contact with “violent extremists” including “members of the Islamic State”, before the Manchester Arena bombing took place.
It’s important we “understand as much as we can” about the radicalisation of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, so that “similar signs can be recognised and appropriate action can be taken,” said Sir John Saunders adding that it was “unlikely” that Salman Abedi “was radicalised at the Didsbury Mosque”
Summing up Sir John Saunders said:
“Those who were young were so full of promise; Those who were older were achieving that promise; and all of them were the cornerstones of their families. What an appalling loss.”
He also apologised to bereaved families for “raising more questions in their minds”, describing the outcome as “inevitable.”
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said he was “profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.”
“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,” McCallum said in a statement.
Figen Murray, mother of Manchester Arena victim Martyn Hett told Sky News : “Our loved ones are gone, we can’t turn the clock back, and I for one am now looking forward”
“Terrorists” she added ” are always a step or two ahead of us and we need to catch up fast.”
Caroline Curry, whose son Liam and his partner Chloe died in the Manchester Arena bombing, says “we won’t rest until all those who played a role in their deaths are brought to justice.
“Forgiveness will never be an option for such evil intentions.”
