Families’ emotional message as Manchester Arena Inquiry final report reveals MI5 ‘failures’

Families of the Manchester Arena attack victims made emotional statements outside court today as the final report revealed the security service MI5 ‘missed a significant opportunity’ to take action that may have prevented the bombing.

As the third and final report into the deaths of the 22 victims of the 2017 attack was revealed outside Manchester Crown Court on Thursday March 2nd, chairman Sir John Saunders said the reason for the missed chance included a ‘failure’ by an MI5 officer to act swiftly enough. The report considered how Salman Abedi was radicalised and if there were any chances security services missed to stop him and prevent the tragedy.

On May 22nd 2017, 22 people were killed when Abedi detonated a homemade explosive device in the foyer at the Manchester Arena as crowds left the Arianna Grande concert. Caroline Curry, the mother of victim Liam Curry made a statement on behalf of her family and Lisa and Mark Rutherford, parents of Chloe Rutherford. Liam, 19, and his girlfriend Chloe Rutherford, 17, were among 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bomb attack.

In the statement Ms Curry said ‘all the families have asked for is the truth and acknowledgement of failures’ and ‘determination those failures are fixed’. Adding, she ‘hopes no other families will ever have to go through the heartbreak’ they experienced. She said she ‘didn’t get any of that acknowledgement from anyone other than the Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service until the chairman’s report was published’.

“Shame on you all,” she added.

Martyn Hett’s parents, mum Figen Murray and stepfather Stuart Murray, said an emotional piece as Mrs Murray spoke about ‘moving forward’ and ‘for everyone concerned to learn from their mistakes and take heed of the recommendations’.

The 29-year-old social media manager was on a night out with friends and was just four metres away from Abedi when he detonated his suicide bomb. Mrs Murray said it seems like terrorists ‘are always a step or two ahead of us and we need to act fast’ and mentioned there was an ‘abundance of mistakes and failures’ made by a ‘raft of organisations and people’. But she added: “We are not here to point fingers.”

However, failure to implement recommendations risks ‘another catastrophic mistake’, she added.

Mr Murray ended the statements made by families, by saying: “We are from Manchester, the city of bees. There’s something been buzzing around in my head for a while…

“Shortly after the attack, St Ann’s Square was full of people from all over singing an Oasis song, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, I heard them say. Thank you.”

Richard Scorer, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon who represented 11 of the families at the inquiry, said on behalf of the families that the findings were deeply painful but ‘eye opening’ and the ‘failures exposed in this report are unacceptable’. He said ‘the failures, at the very least, prevented a real possibility of preventing the attack’ and called for the current system to change to ensure ‘information of national security importance will be acted on speedily’ to protect the public.

Chairman Sir John Saunders said he found it wasn’t possible to reach a finding ‘on the balance of probabilities or to any other evidentiary standard’ as to whether the attack ‘would have been prevented’ had that action been taken. Though he added: “However, there was a realistic possibility that actionable intelligence could have been obtained which might have led to actions preventing the attack.”

On behalf of the security service, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum issued a public apology as he said he is ‘profoundly sorry’ that the secret service was not able to prevent the Manchester Arena attack. He said gathering ‘covert intelligence is difficult’ but had the security service managed to ‘seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma’.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson QPM, Greater Manchester Police, said: “On this difficult day, our thoughts are with the bereaved families and the survivors of the cowardly and brutal act that took place at the Manchester Arena on May 22nd, 2017. 

“I thank the Chairman, Sir John Saunders, for the final volume of a highly comprehensive inquiry which has already done much to shape and deliver improvements into how Greater Manchester Police prepare for and respond to major incidents. 

“We are fully resolved to never repeating the failings previously identified and will ensure that the final volume is fully reviewed and considered. We will do this with a continued fierce determination to ensure that the loss and hurt experienced by those still suffering will not be in vain.”

The Home Secretary Suella Braverman has responded to the findings of the inquiry this afternoon, saying in a statement: “Today is a difficult day. On May 22nd 2017, an act of pure evil took the lives of 22 people at Manchester Arena. My thoughts are with their loved ones and all those who had their lives changed forever.

“Over the past three years, the Manchester Arena Inquiry has carefully analysed critical evidence to ensure vital lessons are learned. I am grateful to Sir John Saunders and his team for their thorough and considered approach.

“I am committed to working with MI5, policing and partners to study the recommendations. Together we will do everything possible to prevent a repeat of this horrifying attack.”