MI5 Must Face Scrutiny, Say Arena Families

The families devastated by the Manchester Arena bombing are making a powerful stand, insisting that MI5 must be held to account and included in new legislation designed to prevent future cover-ups. They argue the security service's actions, or lack thereof, directly failed them. In a heartfelt letter sent to the Prime Minister, which has been seen by the BBC, relatives of the 22 people killed in the May 2017 attack are demanding that MI5 be fully brought under the scope of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. This proposed law, often referred to as the "Hillsborough Law," aims to compel public officials and contractors to be truthful following major disasters and to ensure thorough investigations into organisations. This urgent call for transparency comes after a public inquiry into the atrocity concluded that the attack could have been prevented. Sir John Saunders, who chaired the inquiry, stated in March 2023 that MI5's failure to act decisively on vital intelligence in the months leading up to the bombing represented a "significant missed opportunity." He found there was a genuine chance investigators could have thwarted the plot if they had responded more firmly to two specific pieces of information. The inquiry highlighted that if MI5 had taken more robust action on this intelligence, they would have treated the bomber, Salman Abedi's, return from Libya with extreme seriousness. Abedi, who had been fighting alongside Islamists, arrived back in the UK just four days before the attack. During this critical period, he constructed the explosive device while actively working to avoid detection. Stronger surveillance, the inquiry suggested, might have led authorities to the Nissan Micra where he had stored his homemade explosives. Abedi checked on this vehicle shortly after his return, before moving to a rented city centre flat to assemble the bomb and then scouting the arena. His brother, Hashem Abedi, was later jailed for life with a record 55-year minimum term for assisting with the terror plot. The families' letter poignantly asks: "How many times must MI5 show that it cannot be trusted before something is done?" Their ongoing fight for justice extends beyond the immediate aftermath, with recent developments seeing almost £20 million awarded to 16 children who were injured in the blast. These victims, all under 16 at the time, suffered a range of injuries from catastrophic physical damage to severe psychological trauma. This push for MI5's inclusion in the "Hillsborough Law" underscores a broader desire for state bodies to operate with greater openness and to face proper scrutiny when things go tragically wrong. It’s a testament to the families' resilience, transforming their grief into a powerful demand for systemic change, hoping to prevent other families from enduring similar pain and unanswered questions. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article