Manchester Arena bombing was result of ‘unacceptable and unjustifiable failures’ at venue, inquiry hears

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} “Unacceptable and unjustifiable” security failings at Manchester Arena allowed the 2017 bombing to happen, lawyers representing bereaved families have said. Duncan Atkinson QC, representing the families of Courtney Boyle, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, Liam Curry, Michelle Kiss, Chloe Rutherford and Jane Tweddle, said the evidence had shown that the attack was “the consequence of significant failures – serious, unacceptable and unjustifiable failures”, mainly by British Transport Police, arena operators SMG and security firm Showsec. “If the blindspot had been dealt with, he should have been easily seen.” Manchester Arena inquiry hears 999 call from man trying to help victim of blast Mr Weatherby said “reasonable and proportionate measures” such as bag checks, improved patrols and CCTV surveillance could have lessened the death toll from the “foreseeable and readily preventable outrage”. “There may be multiple reasons for these failures on behalf of those responsible to protect the public: ignorance, passivity, poor training, complacency, turning a wilful blind eye, a dereliction of duty, a lack of funding, a lack of communication, a lack of leadership, a failure of systems, a failure of equipment, a failure to take responsibility, and an overriding drive to penny-pinch.” The inquiry heard how Abedi had not been spotted carrying out “hostile reconnaissance” at the arena in the days leading up to the attack, and that members of the public had tried to raise concerns shortly before the bombing.