A series of “unacceptable and unjustified” security failures occurred before the Manchester Arena bombing, the public inquiry into the attack has been told.
The inquiry heard lawyers’ closing statements on chapter seven, relating to security at the venue. The arena is operated by SMG, who employed the company Showsec to provide security and stewarding services there.
Duncan Atkinson QC, representing seven of the families who were bereaved by the attack said: “The evidence has shown a security operation that was under-resourced, malcoordinated and insufficiently focused on counter-terrorism and especially the threat from person-borne improvised explosive devices.
“This made the arena an attractive target for terrorists and led to a series of missed opportunities to prevent, deter, detect and/or mitigate the attack.”
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured hundreds in the attack on 22 May 2017 after an Ariana Grande concert.
Atkinson said the evidence showed that “costs concerns were prioritised ahead of the provision of all reasonable measures to address the risk from terrorism ... they were focused on the risk of the audience, not to the audience.”
Peter Wetherby QC, representing seven more families, said it was “blindingly obvious” that SMG, an “enormous corporate enterprise”, should have employed a dedicated counter-terrorism expert to look after the arena.
He added: “SMG took the money for ensuring security and public safety in the City Room [the arena’s foyer] but very plainly failed to discharge those responsibilities.”
Wetherby was also critical of the government’s lack of urgency over venue security. He told the hearing that the government’s failure to set out a timetable for change had raised the risk of “further outrages”.
A planned new law to improve venue safety in the wake of the arena bombing has been delayed by Covid-19.
The inquiry continues.
