The aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017 has taken a new turn as the injured survivors are now suing MI5, the UK’s security service. More than 250 people are being represented by three legal firms who have submitted action to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). This legal move comes after the security service’s chief admitted to missing a “slim” chance of preventing the attack that resulted in the death of 22 people and injuries to hundreds.
An inquiry conducted last March revealed that crucial information about the attacker, Salman Abedi, was not acted upon by MI5 in the months leading up to the bombing. The security service had assessed two pieces of information about Abedi at the time, deeming it unrelated to terrorism. This failure to act on actionable intelligence was a key factor that could have prevented the tragic incident. MI5’s director general, Ken McCallum, publicly apologized for the oversight and acknowledged the improvements made within the organization since then.
Former national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant expressed concerns about the overlooked intelligence, emphasizing the sheer volume of information MI5 deals with on a daily basis. However, he also acknowledged that mistakes can occur, leading to critical oversights. Families of the victims have been vocal in their criticisms of MI5, with some believing that their loved ones could have been saved if the security service had acted accordingly. Andrew Roussos, the father of the youngest victim, Saffie-Rose Roussos, strongly believes that Abedi should have been intercepted before reaching the arena, holding MI5 responsible for the tragic outcome.
Legal Proceedings and Accountability
The legal action taken by the survivors against MI5 highlights the need for accountability and justice in cases of negligence by public bodies. The firms leading the charge, Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon, and Broudie Jackson Canter, are seeking redress for the victims of the security service’s failure to prevent the attack. While MI5 has refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal matters, the case underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues within security organizations to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
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