Manchester Arena bombing: Victims’ families condemn ‘unacceptable failures’ of security services

Families of the 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena bombing have heaped criticism on the security services after the final report into the attack was published.

Sir John Saunders, chairman of the public inquiry into the atrocity, released his third and final report on the radicalisation of suicide bomber Salman Abedi and whether the bombing could or should have been prevented.

The boss of MI5 has said he is “profoundly sorry” the Security Service did not prevent the Manchester Arena terror attack after Sir John’s report concluded the May 22, 2017, bombing might have been stopped if intelligence received months before had been acted on more swiftly.

Andrew Roussos, whose daughter Saffie-Rose, aged eight, was the youngest victim of the attack, said: “This was a cataclysmic failure, and it is clear from all of the evidence we have heard about Abedi that there were many opportunities for the security services to have ensured the bombing never happened.

Ken McCallum, director general of MI5, said he was ‘profoundly sorry’ his organisation did not prevent the attack.PA Media

“In my view, the fact that MI5 failed to stop him despite all of the red flags available demonstrates they are not fit to keep us safe and therefore not fit for purpose.”

Richard Scorer, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who represented 11 of the families at the inquiry, said: “Today’s report has been deeply painful to read, but also eye-opening.

“But it is now very clear that there was a failure to properly assess key intelligence about Salman Abedi; a failure to put it into proper context, and – most catastrophic of all – a delay in acting on it.

“As a result of these failures, at the very least, a real possibility of preventing this attack was lost. This is a devastating conclusion for us.

“The failures exposed in this report are unacceptable.”

Eilidh MacLeod, from the Isle of Barra, also died in the Manchester Arena bombing. Eilidh’s Trust

The parents of students Liam Curry, 19, and Chloe Rutherford, 17, from South Shields, also spoke after the report was released.

Caroline Curry said: “We’ve sat through eight weeks at the Old Bailey and over two years here at the inquiry.

“Forgiveness will never be an option for such evil intentions and those that played any part in the murder of our children will never, ever get forgiveness.

“From top to bottom, MI5 to the associates of the attacker, we will always believe you all played a part in the murder of our children.

“In this volume of the report, the chair has recognised that there were significant missed opportunities by MI5.

“They also identified a lack of information-sharing between the police and security services. We hope lessons really will be learnt this time.”

'Failures exposed in this report are unacceptable,' the lawyer representing 11 of the families said. — ‘Failures exposed in this report are unacceptable,’ the lawyer representing 11 of the families said. STV News

Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, 29, who also died in the blast, said she accepted the apology today from MI5.

She added: “I’m glad it’s over today – I’m relieved.

“But it didn’t surprise me that there’s yet another catalogue of errors and failings.

“I for one accept apologies because at the end of the day, I’m not excusing anybody making mistakes don’t get me wrong, but these people are human beings and I’m sure nobody made any mistakes deliberately.

“Yes, it is difficult to hear things could have been different, but you know what, we can’t turn the clock back.

“Martyn was such a people-loving person – he was full of life. He loved life. He was so full of fun and joy.

“I would do a disservice to his very nature if I became a bitter and angry person – I don’t do anger and bitterness.”