More than 300 people affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing have been barred from continuing their legal action against MI5, following a ruling by a specialist tribunal.
The bombing, which occurred at an Ariana Grande concert, claimed 22 lives and left hundreds injured. Families of victims and survivors had sought to hold MI5 accountable, alleging failures in the security services’ duty to prevent the attack.
The Ruling
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which handles cases involving intelligence agencies, delivered its decision today, stating that the claimants could not proceed with their case. Judges ruled that the claims raised fell outside the tribunal’s remit or lacked sufficient grounds to proceed.
The decision marks a significant setback for the families and survivors who have long called for accountability from MI5 and other agencies involved in national security.
Background of the Case
The legal challenge stemmed from revelations during the public inquiry into the attack. The inquiry found that MI5 had missed an opportunity to act on intelligence about Salman Abedi, the perpetrator of the bombing. Despite this, MI5 maintained that their actions were consistent with operational priorities at the time.
Claimants argued that MI5 failed to adequately assess the threat posed by Abedi, who was known to security services before the attack.
Reaction to the Ruling
The families of the victims expressed their disappointment and frustration at the ruling. Speaking on behalf of several claimants, a legal representative said:
“This is a devastating blow for those who have been seeking answers and accountability. The decision denies survivors and families the chance to hold MI5 to account for their failures.”
A spokesperson for MI5 said:
The agency remains committed to learning from the events surrounding the Manchester Arena attack and implementing improvements to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Calls for Continued Accountability
Despite the tribunal’s decision, campaigners and victim advocates have vowed to continue seeking justice through other avenues, including legislative changes to strengthen oversight of intelligence agencies.
The bombing remains one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the UK in recent years, and calls for greater transparency and accountability in counter-terrorism efforts continue to resonate among affected communities and beyond
