British Intelligence Chief Regrets For Failing To Prevent Manchester Concert Suicide Bombs

MI5 Director Ken McCallum (Source: mi5.gov.uk)

JAKARTA - The head of the UK security service said on Thursday he was deeply sorry that his spies had missed a significant opportunity to prevent a deadly suicide bombing at the end of the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Twenty-two people died, the youngest eight, and more than 200 people were injured when a man detonated a homemade bomb at Manchester Arena, northern England in 2017.

John Saunders, chairman of a public investigation into the tragedy, said he could not say with certainty that the bombing could be stopped, but "there is a realistic possibility, there is intelligence information that could be followed up to prevent the attack from occurring.

He said MI5's domestic spy agency, where his officers he spoke to in a private session, had failed to act fast enough.

Saunders spoke after publication of its third and final reports of the bombing, the deadliest in the UK since the 2005 London Transport suicide attack.

regarding that, Ken McCallum, MI5 director general said he was "deeply sorry" that his agency did not prevent the attack.

"Gathering classified intelligence is difficult, but if we succeed in taking advantage of the slim opportunities we have, those affected may not suffer such dire losses and trauma," he said in a statement.

Saunders told a media conference there was a "significant missed opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack."

He said he could not provide details due to national security concerns, although admitting this might make the victim's family want to know more.

Richard Scorer, a lawyer for 11 bereaved families, said the Saunders report had revealed a "unacceptable" failure.

"At least, the real possibility to prevent this attack from disappearing. This is a devastating conclusion for us," he said.

The bomber, 22-year-old Salman Abedi, has been known by the Security Service since 2014, while visiting an imprisoned and influential militant, should have been referred to a de-radicalization program, Saunders said.

Abedi's younger brother Hashem was jailed for 55 years in 2020 for supporting and helping him, while one of his brothers, Ismail, was convicted of not attending an investigation after fleeing England.

Separately, Interior Minister Suella Braverman said she would work with agencies and police to "do everything possible to prevent repeating these horrific attacks."

Two previous Saunders reports also highlighted the shortcomings and other mistakes made, both in safety at the venue and response by emergency services, saying a victim might have survived had he not been so disabled.

Relatives of some victims said they would never be able to forgive those who have disappointed their loved ones.

"From the top to the bottom, MI5 to fellow perpetrators, we will always believe that you all played a role in the murder of our children," said Caroline Curry, the mother of a teenage boy who died with her lover.

"So many people were paid that night to protect our children, but so many failed in their duties."