An official inquiry released last year revealed a significant lapse on the part of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, in preventing the devastating bombing at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. The attack, carried out by suicide bomber Salman Abedi, resulted in the tragic loss of 22 lives and left over 100 individuals, many of whom were children and teenagers, injured.
The inquiry highlighted that Abedi, who detonated a knapsack bomb at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, had been previously flagged as a “subject of interest” by MI5 in 2014. However, despite this designation, Abedi’s case was closed shortly afterward, as he was assessed to be of low-risk.
Furthermore, the report revealed that MI5 failed to act swiftly on crucial information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the attack. It was found that intelligence regarding Abedi had been considered a potential national security concern by at least one MI5 officer. However, this information was not promptly shared with colleagues, contributing to the agency’s inability to intervene effectively.
In response to the inquiry findings, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, issued a rare televised statement expressing profound regret for the agency’s failure to thwart the bombing. The report’s revelations have prompted legal action by over 250 survivors of the attack against MI5, with claims filed to the U.K.’s investigatory powers tribunal. As the legal proceedings continue, details surrounding the case remain confidential.
