London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomb victims were failed on every level, family says

Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomb victims were failed on every level, family says

Twenty-two people murdered in the Manchester Arena bomb were "failed on every level" by organisations criticised in a public inquiry report, a victim's father has said.

Bomber Salman Abedi should have been identified as a threat by security, the inquiry chairman said.

Sir John Saunders found there were missed opportunities to avert or minimise the "devastating impact".

Martyn Hett's father said the attack "should have been prevented".

Paul Hett, whose 29-year-old son died in the bombing, said it had been heartbreaking "to find that Martyn had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time".

In addition to those who died, hundreds more were injured when the Manchester-born bomber, who was of Libyan descent, walked across the arena's foyer at the end of an Ariana Grande concert and detonated a device at 22:31 BST on 22 May 2017.

The first of three reports published by the public inquiry, which began in September, levelled criticism at British Transport Police (BTP), the arena operators SMG, and their contracted security providers, Showsec.

Mr Hett said the organisations involved had a duty of care to protect his son and the other victims, adding: "This inquiry has rightly found that we were failed by them on every level."

"This atrocity should and could have been prevented, and 22 people would not have lost their lives," he said.

Sir John said it was likely Abedi would have detonated his device if confronted but "the loss of life and injury is highly likely to have been less".

On the night of the bombing the national terror threat was classed as severe, meaning an attack was highly likely.

The inquiry chairman said: "Whilst the threat was not specific to any particular premises, the arena was always a possible target for a terrorist.

"Everybody concerned with security at the arena should have been doing their job in the knowledge that a terrorist attack might occur on that night.

"They weren't. No-one believed it could happen to them."

Sir John found two teenage stewards did not react "as robustly and effectively as they should have" when a member of the public, Christopher Wild, raised his concerns about the bomber.

The inquiry chairman called this "the most striking missed opportunity".

The public inquiry into the bombing has heard evidence on security and the emergency response

Other key findings:

*  There was no BTP officer present in the foyer and "no satisfactory explanation" for this
*  Two on-duty officers took a break of more than two hours, including a 10-mile round trip to buy kebabs
*  The bomber hid in a CCTV blindspot which had existed for years. If addressed the attack could have been "disrupted or deterred or fewer people killed"
*  Showsec was criticised for not ensuring staff properly checked the mezzanine where the terrorist hid
*  Counter-terrorism training given to stewards was a "significant failure"
*  Risk assessments by SMG and Showsec were "inadequate"
*  SMG and Showsec "failed to take steps to improve security at the arena that they should have taken"

A range of improvements have been recommended.

Most notably Sir John has supported the introduction of new "Protect Duty" legislation to place a duty on venue operators to consider and cater for the risk of a terrorist attack.

The inquiry was shown CCTV of Salman Abedi on the night of the attack

Figen Murray has been campaigning for the legislation, also known an "Martyn's Law", in memory of her son, Martyn Hett.

She said the report made it clear that "venue security needs to be improved to help prevent further terror attacks".

"We should not have to live in fear and I am determined to make this law a reality," she added.


This report makes difficult reading for the families of the 22 people who were murdered at the Manchester Arena.

But everyone I have spoken to has said how important it is, and how valuable they find it.

Nothing in the 200-page document can bring their loved ones back but there is a united feeling they do not want anyone else to suffer as they have.

And so, they are committed to this inquiry laying out failures and suggesting ways to improve things for the future.

The families I have spoken to know that there is still a long road ahead and are particularly dreading the section of the inquiry which will examine how the 22 died and whether any of them could have been saved.

They know that there will be many more painful days like this one before they reach the end of the process.

June Tron, mother of 32-year-old Philip Tron from Gateshead, said she hoped laws would be introduced "to ensure people can go to a concert or a big public event in confidence that they have the best possible protection".

"It has become clear that was not the case for Philip, 21 others who also lost their lives, and the hundreds more who were seriously injured or left traumatised by what happened," she said.

She said it was hard to accept that "Philip and everybody else in the vicinity of the arena that night was placed at risk".

Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who represents some of the bereaved families, said collective failings made the arena a sitting target for terrorists, leaving thousands of young people "open and vulnerable".

"The security around the venue and event was nowhere near what it needed to be," he said.

Speaking on behalf of seven bereaved families, lawyer Elkan Abrahamson said: "It has been incredibly disappointing for our families to watch and listen as those with responsibility for the safety of their loved ones failed to accept serious shortcomings and inadequacies in the security arrangements and sought to avoid responsibility and push the blame on to others."

He added: "Prosecutions should be commenced without further delay."

Arena operator SMG said it would "continuously challenge ourselves to be better".

SMG added that, during the inquiry, experts "did not see evidence that the security operation in place at Manchester Arena was out of step with the operations being used at other comparable venues" but added that "this doesn't give us any comfort".

"Our guests came to the arena to enjoy a show but were met with a horrific tragedy. For that we are truly sorry," a spokesperson added.

Security firm Showsec said it had "learnt lessons" and improvements were "already in place" but it would now "take time to consider both Sir John's criticisms and his recommendations before responding as he has requested".

BTP Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi said the force had been "reviewing procedures, operational planning and training" since the attack and was "committed to ensuring our staff are supported and prepared to undertake the roles they are required to do".

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government continued "to take action in response to the terrorist threat" and had launched a consultation on the proposed Protect Duty.

She said the government would "carefully consider" the report and would respond fully in due course.


The mother of Martyn Hett, Figen Murray, says the report's findings will help prevent an attack happening again
Paul Price and his partner, Elaine McIver, were at the Manchester Arena when the bomb exploded

Security 'failings and mistakes' found in Manchester Arena inquiry



Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×