MAI-Day-1.Pdf

Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 1 September 7, 2020 Opus 2 - Official Court Reporters Phone: +44 (0)20 3008 5900 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.opus2.com September 7, 2020 Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 1 1 Monday, 7 September 2020 1 in prison . This inquiry could not start until 2 (9.00 am) 2 Hashem Abedi’s criminal trial was completed. 3 Introductory remarks by THE CHAIRMAN 3 Everyone concerned with this inquiry feels the 4 SIR JOHN SAUNDERS: Would you all please remain standing? 4 deepest sympathy for those who lost children , partners , 5 I shall ask Mr Greaney to read out the names of those 5 loved ones and friends in the explosion . We will hear 6 who lost their lives . After that , we shall observe 6 what will be very moving evidence early in the inquiry 7 a minute’s silence in their memory. 7 of the extent of that loss , which will enable us to 8 MR GREANEY: John Atkinson. Courtney Boyle. 8 understand better the appalling consequences of what 9 Kelly Brewster. Georgina Callander . 9 Salman Abedi did. It is important that that evidence is 10 Olivia Campbell-Hardy. Liam Curry. Wendy Fawell. 10 given to emphasise to us all how important it is to 11 Martyn Hett. Megan Hurley. Alison Howe. Nell Jones. 11 prevent terrorist atrocities like this happening. 12 Michelle Kiss . Angelika Klis . Marcin Klis . 12 We will also hear about the many who did not die but 13 Sorrell Leczkowski. Lisa Lees. Eilidh MacLeod. 13 were present in the City Room at the time of the 14 Elaine McIver. Saffie -Rose Roussos. Chloe Rutherford. 14 explosion or responded in the aftermath. Many have 15 Philip Tron. Jane Tweddle. 15 suffered life -changing physical and psychological 16 (A minute’s silence was observed) 16 injuries . We will hear from some of them about the 17 SIR JOHN SAUNDERS: Please be seated. 17 events that night and we will be able to get some 18 This inquiry was set up by the Home Secretary to 18 insight into how fundamentally their lives have been 19 examine the events that led up to the explosion at the 19 altered by the events of 22 May. 20 Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017, the circumstances in 20 In the course of the evidence we will investigate 21 which the explosion occurred, and the actions of the 21 what led Salman Abedi to do what he did. We will try 22 emergency services after it had happened. 22 and get a picture of the sort of person he was, how he 23 The explosion killed 22 people, including children , 23 may have become radicalised, if he was, and, if we can, 24 the youngest of whom was 8 years old. In addition to 24 who radicalised him. Whatever we find out about 25 those who died, over 260 people were physically injured , 25 Salman Abedi, we will never be able to understand why he 1 3 1 of whom 160 required hospital treatment. Many of those 1 set out to kill so many innocent people, including 2 160 suffered life -changing injuries . Many, many more 2 children , and cause the devastation that he did . 3 suffered psychological injury as a result of being 3 Salman Abedi was known to the security service and 4 present at the time of the explosion or from what they 4 counter- terrorism police before the bombing; we know 5 witnessed of the aftermath. Many of the survivors will 5 that already from the reports of the Intelligence and 6 never recover from the effects of what they saw. 6 Security Committee of Parliament and Lord Anderson. 7 The explosion that brought about these appalling 7 Could and should more have been done to prevent the 8 consequences was caused by Salman Abedi detonating 8 attack? These are matters we will investigate , but just 9 a bomb just outside one of the exit doors from the arena 9 as the Parliamentary Committee had to hear some evidence 10 into an area known as the City Room. 10 relating to that topic behind closed doors, so shall I , 11 He did that at 10.31 in the evening as the audience 11 for reasons of national security . To do otherwise would 12 was leaving a concert . He chose a place where members 12 damage efforts to prevent further attacks and further 13 of the audience were meeting up with parents and others 13 tragedies such as this one and put more innocent lives 14 who had come to collect them. The audience was 14 at risk . I have to ensure that nothing the inquiry does 15 principally made up of young people. Salman Abedi blew 15 will damage national security . 16 himself up in the explosion , but he intended that as 16 Where I conclude that giving the evidence in public 17 many people as possible would die with him. 17 will not damage national security , I shall ensure that 18 Salman Abedi’s brother , Hashem, has been convicted 18 that happens. As with all the organisations whose work 19 by a jury of murdering the 22 people who died. Hashem 19 we will look at, we will consider whether lessons have 20 was not in Manchester at the time of the explosion , 20 been learnt from previous terrorist attacks and whether 21 he was in Libya, but he had assisted his brother with 21 the right lessons have been learnt from this tragedy. 22 obtaining the ingredients needed to make a bomb in the 22 We will investigate whether there were opportunities 23 full knowledge of what his brother intended to do. He 23 to stop Salman Abedi on the night of the attack and, if 24 has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 24 there were, why they weren’t taken. This will mean that 25 other offences and will spend at least the next 55 years 25 we will be looking at the security operation on the 2 4 Opus 2 [email protected] Official Court Reporters +44 (0)20 3008 5900 September 7, 2020 Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 1 1 night of the concert . We will consider how security 1 witnesses will not be easy. We need to respect those 2 at the arena was meant to work and whether it operated 2 difficulties , make allowances for them, and do 3 correctly . 3 everything we can to reduce them. 4 We will look at the emergency response. Were the 4 The process of conducting this inquiry has been made 5 emergency services properly prepared? Did they have 5 more difficult by the pandemic that we are currently 6 suitable plans to cope with a terrorist attack? Had 6 experiencing . Everyone has agreed that we need to make 7 they carried out exercises to see if those plans worked 7 a start and the inquiry team have worked very hard to 8 in practice ? If they did , did they learn lessons from 8 make sure that that can happen. We have had to act on 9 those exercises ? If the response of the emergency 9 expert advice as to how we can safely conduct the 10 services should have been better , would it have made any 10 hearings . That advice has evolved over time. At one 11 difference to the chances of survival of any of those 11 stage it looked as if we were going to be able to 12 who died? 12 accommodate more people in the hearing room than we are 13 All of these matters have been considered by 13 now told we can. I hope that the number we can 14 independent experts who will give evidence to the 14 accommodate will increase as time goes on. 15 inquiry and, where they make criticisms of any of the 15 In allocating seats in the hearing room and 16 participants in these events , they can be asked 16 surrounding accommodation, we will give priority to the 17 questions about their criticisms and the basis for them. 17 families of the deceased, but we will also try and 18 While there may be criticisms of some of the actions 18 accommodate survivors whenever that is possible . There 19 and decisions which were taken, there may well be praise 19 will be extensive broadcast coverage of the hearings so 20 for the actions of others . Lord Kerslake in his report 20 that all who wish to can follow the proceedings 21 concluded there was much to be proud of. In particular , 21 remotely. I know that for many that will not compensate 22 we will hear of acts of heroism from members of the 22 for not being able to attend the hearings , but in the 23 public and the emergency services who assisted those who 23 present situation there will have to be compromises. 24 were dying or were injured in the City Room, oblivious 24 There will be ongoing discussions with the various teams 25 to the danger that they faced. They put the interests 25 to try and ensure that everyone is fairly treated . 5 7 1 of the injured above the risks to their personal safety . 1 In addition to the broadcast, there will be a daily 2 They showed courage and humanity in the most difficult 2 transcript of the hearings which will be posted on to 3 of circumstances. 3 the website . 4 What the inquiry will do is seek out the facts of 4 The media will have an important part to play in 5 what happened and why in order to provide answers to the 5 ensuring that the public are kept informed of what is 6 families and the survivors and to learn lessons for the 6 happening in the inquiry .

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