This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12520483
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
7/7 inquests: MI5 officer giving evidence | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A senior member of MI5 has begun giving evidence at the inquests into the deaths of 52 people killed in the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London in 2005. | |
The officer, who is being referred to as Witness G, will be asked whether the attacks could have been prevented. | |
The bereaved families in court are able to see him but reporters in a nearby annex can only hear his voice. | |
Four suicide bombers detonated their devices on three Tube trains and a double decker bus on 7 July 2005. | Four suicide bombers detonated their devices on three Tube trains and a double decker bus on 7 July 2005. |
Witness G - who has worked for the security services since 1991 - has been chief-of-staff to the director general of M15, currently Jonathan Evans, since 2005. | |
He will face questions about a key moment months before the bombings, when the security service came across two of the terrorists during an investigation into another plot. | |
'Significant day' | 'Significant day' |
Many of the relatives of those who died want to know why those under surveillance were not subjected to detailed scrutiny. | Many of the relatives of those who died want to know why those under surveillance were not subjected to detailed scrutiny. |
MI5 has always maintained it did not uncover any intelligence that would have identified the pair as potential suicide bombers. | MI5 has always maintained it did not uncover any intelligence that would have identified the pair as potential suicide bombers. |
BBC correspondent Peter Hunt says it will be a significant day as the senior MI5 officer will sit in the witness box and be questioned in public. | BBC correspondent Peter Hunt says it will be a significant day as the senior MI5 officer will sit in the witness box and be questioned in public. |
Last month, the coroner Lady Justice Hallett granted a request from Home Secretary Theresa May for Witness G to give evidence with anonymity. | Last month, the coroner Lady Justice Hallett granted a request from Home Secretary Theresa May for Witness G to give evidence with anonymity. |
But she refused to rule that the witness should be screened from the families of those who died. | But she refused to rule that the witness should be screened from the families of those who died. |
The attacks were carried out by suicide bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19. | The attacks were carried out by suicide bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19. |
They targeted Tube trains at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square and a bus in Tavistock Square. | They targeted Tube trains at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square and a bus in Tavistock Square. |