Suicide bomber Salman Abedi was 'subject of interest' for MI5 prior to Manchester Arena attack

A review by David Anderson QC found it 'conceivable' that the attack could have been averted 'had the cards fallen differently'.

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi was a 'subject of interest' (SOI) for MI5 in the years prior to the attack but he was not under active investigation when he detonated the suicide vest on May 22.

The report reveals MI5 had come by information about him in the months before the Arena bombing that took the lives of 22 victims but the 'significance of the intelligence was not full appreciated at the time'.

The report concludes that, 'in retrospect, the intelligence was highly relevant to the planned attack'.

An MI5 intelligence tool using data from more than 20,000 SOIs, identified Abedi as one of a small number of individuals who merited further examination.

A meeting was planned to discuss whether Abedi should be further investigated. But it was scheduled for May 31 - nine days after his attack.

The report states: "It is unknowable whether such an investigation would have allowed Abedi’s plans to be pre-empted and thwarted. MI5 assesses that it would not."

Chief Constable for Greater Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins, said that the police remain committed to bringing anyone involved in the attack in May to justice.

He said: "This year 22 people in Manchester were murdered. Twenty two families were left devastated and there are hundreds of people suffering from physical or emotional trauma. None of us will ever forget that most awful of days.

"Our thoughts remain with all those affected and we remain committed to bringing anyone involved in this attack to justice.

"We welcome the report by Mr David Anderson QC, which provided independent assurance of the reviews undertaken by National Counter Terrorism Policing and MI5 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester.

"Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK is recognised internationally for its successes and strong partnership approach to defeating terrorists, because of that we will never stop learning or adapting to ensure that the response meets the changing threat.

"The size and scale of the threat from terrorism has been made so tragically clear this year. Greater Manchester Police will support Counter Terrorism Policing and the UK intelligence community in its response to this step change in threat and in adopting the recommendations in the Review.

"Further independent scrutiny will follow including inquests into the deaths of those who lost their lives. Greater Manchester Police will support those inquiries and with our partner agencies will continue to support those affected."

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described the report as a thorough and honest review.

He said in a statement: "There is no escaping the fact that the report will be a difficult read for everyone in Manchester and most particularly for the bereaved families and those still recovering from the attack.

"We think of them today and recommit to doing everything we can to support them going forward."

Mr Burnham said he accepted the report's conclusion that there is no way of knowing whether the Manchester attack could have been stopped.

The report detailed that MI5 and Counter-Terrorism Police are contemplating significant changes moving forward.

Sharing data and information with local policing teams, and consistently assessing and investigating terrorist threats, are among 126 of their recommendations.

Mr Anderson, who was formerly the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation in the UK, said of their proposals: "If properly implemented, I consider that the recommendations taken as a whole will strengthen MI5 and the police in their ability to stop most terrorist attacks."

Read the full report at www.gov.uk/government/publications/attacks-in-london-and-manchester-between-march-and-june-2017.