The survivors of the tragic Manchester Arena bombing that took place in May 2017 are taking legal action against MI5, the UK’s security service. This decision comes after the security service’s chief admitted that there was a “slim” chance of stopping the attack, which resulted in the death of 22 individuals and left hundreds injured.
An inquiry conducted last year revealed that crucial intelligence was overlooked by MI5 in the months leading up to the attack. It was found that if the security service had acted on the information they had received, the bombing might have been prevented. However, two key pieces of information about the bomber, Salman Abedi, were wrongly assessed to not be related to terrorism.
Following the inquiry’s findings, MI5’s director general, Ken McCallum, publicly apologized for the organization’s shortcomings in preventing the attack. He expressed deep regret for not obtaining actionable intelligence that could have potentially averted the tragedy. McCallum acknowledged the difficulty in gathering covert intelligence but emphasized that improvements have been made within MI5 since the incident.
Relatives of the victims, particularly Saffie-Rose Roussos’ father, have been vocal in their criticism of MI5. Mr. Roussos firmly believes that his daughter would still be alive if the security service had fulfilled its duty. He expressed that Abedi should have been apprehended before reaching the arena, emphasizing that it was MI5’s responsibility to prevent such attacks.
Legal Proceedings
Three legal firms, Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon, and Broudie Jackson Canter, are spearheading the legal action against MI5 at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). This tribunal provides victims with the opportunity for redress in cases where public bodies have acted unlawfully. MI5 has abstained from commenting on the matter due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The Manchester Arena bombing serves as a grim reminder of the grave consequences of intelligence failures. The legal action taken by the survivors and their families highlights the importance of accountability and transparency within security services. It is crucial for organizations like MI5 to learn from past mistakes and ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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