Bombing survivors from Ariana Grande concert in UK sue British intelligence agency

More than 250 survivors of the tragic suicide bombing that took place at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England are seeking justice by taking legal action against Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5. The attack, which claimed the lives of 22 innocent concert-goers, left a lasting impact on the survivors and their families.

The lawyers representing the survivors have filed a group claim on behalf of over 250 clients to the U.K.’s investigatory powers tribunal. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, detailed information about the case has not been disclosed to the public.

The suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, detonated a knapsack bomb at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, as fans were leaving Grande’s concert. The explosion resulted in over 100 injuries, with many of the victims being children and teenagers. Abedi, the perpetrator of the attack, died in the blast.

A recent official inquiry revealed that MI5 failed to act promptly on crucial information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, which was the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years. Abedi had been flagged as a “subject of interest” by MI5 in 2014, but the case was closed shortly after, deeming him as low-risk.

In response to the findings, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, publicly expressed his deep regret for the agency’s failure to prevent the tragic incident. The survivors’ quest for justice sheds light on the importance of accountability and transparency in ensuring the safety and security of the public.