Manchester Arena bombing: Security services might have averted Manchester Arena bombing, inquiry finds
"It is not possible to reach any conclusion on the balance of probabilities or to any other evidential standard as to whether the attack would have been prevented.
A number of MI5 and police counter-terrorism detective witnesses gave evidence behind closed doors during the 17-month inquiry. The sessions were held in secret in an effort not to compromise national security. Neither piece of intelligence was shared by the Security Service with counter-terror police in the northwest. If further investigative steps had been taken as a result of one of those pieces of intelligence, Sir John said,"this would have increased the overall prospect that the attack would have been prevented".
"The delay in providing the report led to the missing of an opportunity to take a potentially important investigative action. I am satisfied that such an investigative action would have been a proportionate and justified step to take. This should have happened," he said. A meeting to consider further investigation of Abedi had been scheduled for 31 May 2017, nine days after the bombing.
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