In a tragic turn of events, the survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing have taken legal action against MI5. Following the acknowledgment by MI5’s chief of a missed opportunity to prevent the attack, more than 250 individuals have decided to pursue justice through the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). This legal action underscores the impact of the devastating bombing that took the lives of 22 individuals and left hundreds injured in May 2017.
An inquiry conducted in March revealed that crucial intelligence received prior to the attack could have potentially prevented the bombing. The security service had assessed two pieces of information related to the bomber, Salman Abedi, as not terrorism-related. This oversight ultimately led to MI5 failing to act on intelligence that could have averted the tragedy. Director General Ken McCallum publicly apologized for these failings, acknowledging the missed opportunity to gather actionable intelligence that could have saved lives.
Former national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant expressed concern over the failure to act on intelligence, highlighting the challenges faced by MI5 in processing vast amounts of information daily. However, relatives of the victims, including the father of the youngest victim Saffie-Rose Roussos, have been vocal in their criticism of MI5. Andrew Roussos firmly believes that his daughter would still be alive if proper actions had been taken by MI5 to stop Salman Abedi before he reached the arena.
Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon, and Broudie Jackson Canter have taken the lead in representing the survivors and families of victims in the legal action against MI5. The IPT offers these individuals the opportunity to seek redress for the unlawful actions of a public body. Despite the legal proceedings, MI5 has chosen not to comment on the matter.
The aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing highlights the critical importance of effective intelligence gathering and analysis in preventing such heinous acts of violence. The legal action against MI5 serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in ensuring the safety and security of the public. It is a tragic reminder that even a single missed opportunity can have devastating consequences, underscoring the immense responsibility placed on security agencies to protect the lives of innocent civilians.