National Security

UK Security Service To Investigate How It Missed Manchester Bombing

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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The U.K.’s domestic security service has launched an inquiry into how it missed warnings regarding Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi.

MI5’s “post incident investigation” will examine what may have been overlooked, while another investigation is being created for the service’s oversight and leadership, according to the BBC. British officials were allegedly warned of Abedi’s radical tendencies at least three times.

“I think its the right first step. There’s a lot of information coming out at the moment about what happened, how this occurred, what people might or might not have known and I think it’s right that MI5 takes a look to find out what the facts are,” U.K. Home Secretary Amber Rudd told Sky News on Monday. “I think we shouldn’t rush to make any sort of conclusions at this stage, the important thing at this moment, I believe, is to ensure that we allow the operation to continue and to conclude.”

Rudd noted that arrests are still being made in relation to the case and that the authorities should focus their attention on “closing down this operation.” She added that having MI5 investigate itself as a “first step” is “absolutely right.”

MI5 is Britain’s premier domestic security service and is responsible for monitoring terrorist threats to the British homeland. The multiple red flags associated with Abedi have raised questions as to how the 22-year-old terrorist was not stopped before killing 22 and injuring 116 others.

A British official told the BBC Abedi was one of several former persons of interest in a “pool” whose potential danger was “subject to review” by MI5 and associated agencies.

Two people who knew Abedi during his time at Manchester College made separate calls to the U.K.’s anti-terrorism hotline warning of his radical views. The FBI also allegedly provided information to MI5 about his ties to radical groups.

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