Manchester Arena attack: survivors sue MI5

Content Warning: This article contains content related to the Manchester Arena attack, including mentions of terrorism and suicide bombing.

The survivors of the Manchester Arena attack are suing MI5.

Three legal firms including Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter, are representing over 250 individuals. They have confirmed that actions have been submitted to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). It is reportedly the first time that MI5 is facing legal action for its alleged failure to prevent a domestic terror attack.

This follows revelations from the security service's chief last year, which revealed a missed "slim" chance to prevent the suicide bombing attack at Manchester Arena.

The Manchester Arena attack saw 22 people killed and hundreds injured, following the Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.

It remains the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the July 7 bombings in 2005.

In March 2023, an inquiry revealed that the Manchester terrorist incident could have been prevented if MI5 had acted upon intelligence received in the months leading up to the attack.

MI5's director general, Ken McCallum, publicly apologised following the inquiry, acknowledging the identified failings and expressing regret.

He said, "There was a realistic possibility that actionable intelligence could have been obtained which might have led to actions preventing the attack."

A parliamentary watchdog also identified in 2018 a series of failures by both police and MI5 in the months before the fatal attack. Relatives of the attack victims have voiced criticism against MI5, with the father of the youngest victim, Saffie-Rose Roussos, expressing the belief that she would be alive today "if MI5 did their job." MI5 has refused to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.