Injured survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing are suing MI5, lawyers say.
It comes after security chiefs admitted last year that the chance of a defeat was “remote” attack In May 2017, the incident resulted in 22 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Three law firms representing more than 250 people have confirmed that proceedings have been lodged with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) but gave no further details, saying it was an “ongoing legal matter”.
A survey last March found that if MI5 was based on intelligence received months before the attack.
According to the findings, security services assessed two pieces of information about bomber Salman Abedi at the time as not related to terrorism.
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Manchester Arena: How MI5 failed
As a result, MI5 director-general Ken McCallum issued a rare public statement apologizing for the flaws found and insisting improvements had been made.
“After examining all the evidence, the inquiry chairman found ‘there was a genuine possibility of obtaining actionable intelligence that would have led to action being taken to prevent the attack’,” he said after the findings were released.
“I deeply regret that such intelligence was not obtained.
“Gathering covert intelligence is difficult, but if we can seize this slim chance, those affected may not experience such horrific loss and trauma.
“I am deeply sorry for MI5’s failure to prevent this attack.”
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Could MI5 have prevented the Manchester bombing?
Manchester Arena security breach
Former national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant previously told Sky News it was “concerning” the intelligence was not acted upon but MI5 was receiving “hundreds, if not thousands” of fragments every day.
“Mistakes can be made and things can get overlooked,” he added.
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Relatives of those killed in the attack have been critical of MI5, with the father of the youngest victim, Safi-Rose Roussos, believing she would still be alive “if MI5 had done its job”.
Andrew Roussos previously told Sky News: “Salman Abedi should have been stopped before he got to that arena, that’s MI5’s job.”
Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter are the three law firms leading legal proceedings under the IPT, which provides redressal rights for victims of unlawful conduct by public bodies.
MI5 would not comment as legal proceedings are ongoing.
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