Security service MI5 today said sorry for not preventing the Manchester Arena terror bombing after a report found opportunities were missed.
Director General, Ken McCallum, issued a statement after significant 'missed opportunities' to take action that might have prevented the attack were laid out in the third and final report arising from the public inquiry into the 2017 atrocity.
He said the chairman of the inquiry, Sir John Saunders, had found 'there was a realistic possibility that actionable intelligence could have been obtained which might have led to actions preventing the attack'.
READ MORE: LIVE: Part three of Manchester Arena bomb report reveals 'missed opportunities'
MI5, added Mr McCallum, 'deeply regret that such intelligence was not obtained'.
The Home Secretary, meanwhile, said authorities would 'do everything possible to prevent a repeat of this horrifying attack'.
Sir John said a security service officer should have acted more quickly after key intelligence concerning bomber Salman Abedi came in before the suicide bombing of May 22, 2017. That intelligence, he said, wasn't shared with counter-terrorism police.
The report details two key pieces of information that came into MI5, titled in the report Piece of Intelligence 1 and 2, the exact detail and nature of which have not been made public for reasons of national security in the 207-page report released today.
Part of the public inquiry, which ran from September 2020 to February 2022, was held in private, where four MI5 officers and 10 counter-terrorism police detectives, all anonymised and referred to by letters, gave evidence behind closed doors.
On two occasions in the months before the attack, intelligence came in to MI5, but the significance was not fully appreciated at the time, the report said.
MI5 Director General Mr McCallum said in the statement: "The terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena was a terrible tragedy. The bomber killed 22 innocent people and harmed many others. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed, and with all those whose lives were changed by this appalling act of terrorism.
"Having examined all the evidence, the Chair of the Inquiry has found that 'there was a realistic possibility that actionable intelligence could have been obtained which might have led to actions preventing the attack'.
"I deeply regret that such intelligence was not obtained. Gathering covert intelligence is difficult – but had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma. I am profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.
"The people of MI5 and our policing partners come to work every day to stop terrorism. We continually work to improve the counter-terrorism system; since the terrible events of 2017 we have made more than 100 improvements. But we are determined to do more. As the Chair now considers his recommendations, we will engage fully. Where there are opportunities to strengthen the UK’s defences further, MI5 will act.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to keep our country safe from hidden threats.
"MI5 exists to stop atrocities. To all those whose lives were forever changed on that awful night: I am so sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack at the Manchester Arena.
Responding to the findings Home Secretary Suella Braverman, said: "Today is a difficult day. On 22 May 2017, an act of pure evil took the lives of 22 people at Manchester Arena. My thoughts are with their loved ones and all those who had their lives changed forever.
"Over the past three years, the Manchester Arena Inquiry has carefully analysed critical evidence to ensure vital lessons are learned. I am grateful to Sir John Saunders and his team for their thorough and considered approach.
"I am committed to working with MI5, policing and partners to study the recommendations. Together we will do everything possible to prevent a repeat of this horrifying attack."
Security minister Tom Tugendhat said: "Today we remember the 22 people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena attack. Our thoughts are with their families, and all those whose lives were changed forever as a result of this appalling act of terror.
"The Government, our security services and emergency services are wholly committed to learning the lessons of this unspeakable tragedy. We will do everything in our power to continue strengthening our country’s defences, and to keep the British people safe.
"I'm immensely grateful to all those who contributed their expertise, knowledge and experiences to the inquiry, and to Sir John Saunders and his team for their thorough and meticulous work throughout the inquiry."
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police, said: "On this difficult day, our thoughts are with the bereaved families and the survivors of the cowardly and brutal act that took place at the Manchester Arena on the 22 May 2017.
"I thank the Chairman, Sir John Saunders, for the final volume of a highly comprehensive inquiry which has already done much to shape and deliver improvements into how Greater Manchester Police prepare for and respond to major incidents.
"We are fully resolved to never repeating the failings previously identified and will ensure that the final volume is fully reviewed and considered. We will do this with a continued fierce determination to ensure that the loss and hurt experienced by those still suffering will not be in vain."
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: "This has been an authoritative and exhaustive process of inquiry and we would like to thank Sir John Saunders for leading it in the way that he has. At all stages Greater Manchester has faced up fully to the findings and we will do so again. Major changes have already been made to our emergency services and if more are needed as a result of this report we will do so.
“What has become clear through the stages of this inquiry is that, both at national and regional level, the country was not prepared for a terrorist attack of this nature in a city like ours. It is now beholden on all public bodies to use the findings of the inquiry to ensure all places are better prepared to protect people and respond to acts of terrorism.
“We know that today is another very difficult day for those bereaved, injured and affected by the attack at Manchester Arena. Greater Manchester has stood with them from the beginning and our support will remain constant.”
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