Security officials missed 'significant' opportunity to avert Manchester Arena bombing, finds inquiry

According to the chairman of the inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing, the security services were at fault for not taking action that could have prevented the atrocity.

Former high court judge Sir John Saunders published a report, the third and final one from the inquiry, which examined the potential for MI5 and counter-terror police to have stopped bomber Salman Abedi from executing the attack.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that the security services had been aware of Manchester-born Abedi for seven years prior to the bombing. The attack, which occurred on May 22, 2017, at the conclusion of an Ariana Grande concert, resulted in the deaths of 22 people and hundreds of injuries.


Sir John's inquiry also revealed issues with information sharing between the Security Service and counter-terrorism police. He added that it was impossible to say whether different or additional actions could have prevented the attack, as the outcome could have gone either way. The families of the victims, however, viewed the report's findings as a "devastating conclusion."

Throughout the 17-month inquiry, several MI5 and police counter-terrorism detectives testified in closed-door sessions to protect national security.



Sir John's report identified two key pieces of intelligence received by the Security Service in the months preceding the attack as the "principal missed opportunity." However, the details of this intelligence were not disclosed in the report.

According to Sir John, both pieces of intelligence were evaluated to be related to non-terrorist criminal or non-nefarious activity by Abedi, and neither was shared with counter-terror police in the northwest.

Sir John also highlighted the missed opportunity to intercept Abedi when he returned to the UK from Libya just four days before the attack. This information could have led to police following Abedi's Nissan Micra, which contained the explosive.

FAQs:

1. When did the Manchester Arena bombing take place?
   May 22, 2015
2. Who attacked Manchester Arena?
   Salman Ramadan Abedi