Nov 23, 2024

Survivors of 2017 Ariana Grande Manchester Concert Bombing Pursue Legal Action

by Nina Richards | Apr 15, 2024
A person stands in front of a large memorial made up of flowers, balloons, and messages honoring the victims of the 2017 Manchester concert bombing. Photo Source: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File via Washington Times

Following the tragic bombing at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, over 250 survivors are pursuing legal action against Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5. Represented by lawyers from multiple law firms, a joint claim has been submitted to the U.K.’s investigatory powers tribunal.

On May 22, 2017, suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a knapsack bomb as concert-goers were leaving the venue. The bombing claimed the lives of 22 individuals and left more than 100 injured.

An official inquiry last year revealed deficiencies in MI5’s handling of critical information that could have prevented the attack, which has been deemed one of the deadliest extremist assaults in recent U.K. history.

Abedi, previously flagged as a person of interest to MI5 in 2014, saw his case closed shortly after due to an assessment of low risk. Abedi had connections to Islamist extremists and was influenced by radical ideologies. The inquiry further uncovered that MI5 personnel failed to promptly share intelligence about Abedi's activities, leading to missed opportunities in averting the tragedy.

In response to the findings, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, issued a rare televised apology, expressing deep regret over the agency's failure to prevent the attack.

Further details of the lawsuit have not been released because it is an ongoing legal matter.

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Nina Richards
Nina Richards
Nina earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Brandman University, laying the foundation for her interest in and understanding of human behavior. She works full-time at Law Commentary and is dedicated to merging her passion for pop culture with legal insights. Combining her analytical skills and interest in staying updated on trends, she strives to deliver pop culture legal news, bridging the gap between law and contemporary society.

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