Survivors of Manchester Arena Bombing Take Legal Action Against Britain's MI5 Agency

Following the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England in 2017, more than 250 survivors have taken legal action against Britain's domestic intelligence agency, MI5. The survivors have submitted a group claim to the U.K.'s investigatory powers tribunal, seeking accountability for the tragic incident.

The bombing occurred on May 22, 2017, at the Manchester Arena, claiming the lives of 22 individuals and injuring over 100 people, many of whom were children and teenagers. The attacker, Salman Abedi, detonated a knapsack bomb as concert-goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande's performance.

MI5’s Handling of the Situation

An official inquiry revealed that MI5 had missed crucial opportunities to prevent the attack. The report stated that despite Abedi being a "subject of interest" in 2014, MI5 did not act swiftly on vital information and closed his case, considering him to be low-risk. Furthermore, it was disclosed that an MI5 officer acknowledged that intelligence about Abedi posed a potential national security concern but failed to promptly discuss it with colleagues.

MI5’s Apology

In response to the findings, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, publicly expressed profound remorse, admitting that the agency's shortcomings had contributed to their inability to thwart the bombing. This rare televised statement from the MI5 leader highlighted the agency's regret over its failure to prevent the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

The legal representatives of the survivors refrained from divulging further details about the ongoing legal matter. The submission of the group claim signifies the survivors' pursuit of justice and accountability for the harrowing experience they endured as a result of the bombing. As the legal action unfolds, it aims to shed light on the circumstances leading up to the attack and scrutinize MI5's role in the tragic event.