An ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot.
Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider’s perspective on how counter-terrorism actually works.
If the ins and outs of terrorism, extremism, national security and public safety are of interest to you, subscribe to receive free content from former Canadian intelligence analyst and author Phil Gurski on these issues.
2017 Manchester Arena Bombing
On 22 May 2017, an ISIS suicide bomber struck moments after the singer Ariana Grande finished her concert at Manchester Arena, killing 22 concertgoers and injuring 116 more.
ISIS indeed claimed the heinous act. The attacker was later revealed to be 22-year-old Salman Abedi, a Manchester native of Libyan descent whom investigators believe was radicalised after spending time in Libya in 2011. He received help from his brother, who was found guilty of murder almost three years later. As the Crown prosecutor put it: “He has blood on his hands even if he didn’t detonate the bomb.”
Read more about the Manchester Arena bombing:
Manchester Arena Bombing (May 22, 2017)
When is an act of terrorism not an act of terrorism?
When the fear of terrorism trumps reason
There is no question that fear sells. The latest…
The Manchester terrorist attack and why intelligence agencies collect information
Intelligence agencies are generally poorly understood in our societies.…
