Manchester bombing victims' names read out as inquiry begins

Families of the 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena terror attack gathered in the city on Monday as the public inquiry into the bombing began.

Barra schoolgirl Eilidh MacLeod was among those killed at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.

The 14-year-old had travelled to the city with her friend Laura MacIntyre, who was among those badly injured in the blast.

Sir John Saunders, a retired High Court judge, is chairing the Manchester Arena Inquiry, to investigate events before, during and after the attack.

Suicide-bomber Salman Abedi, surrounded by the throng of elated youngsters leaving the concert, exploded his shrapnel-packed rucksack bomb, sending thousands of nuts and bolts shredding everything in their path.

The names of the 22 innocent bystanders wer eread out, followed by a minute silence as the inquiry began.

Abedi was known to the security services, and a senior MI5 officer, known only as witness J, is expected to give evidence to the inquiry later this year.

The bomber’s brother, Hashem Abedi, now 23, was last month jailed for life with a minimum 55 years before parole, for his part in the deadly bomb plot, which also left hundreds injured.

Formally opening the inquiry, Sir John said: “This is an exercise in establishing the truth.

“If I conclude things went wrong then I shall say so, but we are not looking for scapegoats. We are searching for the truth.

“The explosion killed 22 people, including children, the youngest was eight years old.

“Salman Abedi blew himself up in the explosion but he intended as many people as possible would die with him.”

Sir John said some evidence must be heard in secret to prevent further similar terrorist attacks.

Abedi was known to the security services, and a senior MI5 officer, known only as witness J, is expected to give evidence to the inquiry later this year.

The bomber’s brother, Hashem Abedi, now 23, was last month jailed for life with a minimum 55 years before parole, for his part in the deadly bomb plot, which left hundreds of other people injured.

The inquiry is being held with unprecedented arrangements to ensure social distancing is observed by the families of the victims, their lawyers and others representing public bodies, witnesses and the media.

The main hearings will take place in a room specially converted from two courtrooms within the Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court building in the centre of Manchester.

A small number of relatives of those killed are to attend in the hearing room, with a conference centre nearby accommodating others, along with survivors of the attack.

A media annexe has also been provided for journalists, with only a single media representative, from the PA news agency, inside the hearing room.

Over the following three days, Mr Greaney will set out the evidence to be heard and summarise the key issues to be considered during the inquiry, which is expected to run into spring next year.

Background evidence and pen portraits, where relatives of those killed speak about their loved ones, will begin on Thursday.

The inquiry is divided into 17 chapters to cover topics including the victims, the background and radicalisation of Salman Abedi, the response of the emergency services on the night, the planning of the attack, and whether what the security services and police knew about Salman Abedi could have prevented the attack.

Chairman Sir John will make a report and recommendations once all the evidence is heard.

Some evidence, involving information judged to be potentially of use to terrorists, is subject to restriction orders, and those hearings will be closed to the public.

The most sensitive evidence is likely to be heard at closed hearings, with both press and public excluded because of the risk to national security.

A livestream of proceedings will be broadcast so members of the public can follow the hearings.