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7/7 inquests: MI5 'unlikely' to have foiled bomb plot | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
There was no "realistic prospect" of MI5 uncovering the 7/7 plot even if clues about the bombers had been followed up, the inquests into the attacks have heard. | There was no "realistic prospect" of MI5 uncovering the 7/7 plot even if clues about the bombers had been followed up, the inquests into the attacks have heard. |
Witness G, a senior security officer, said he did not believe more steps should "reasonably" have been taken to investigate ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan and his deputy, Shehzad Tanweer. | Witness G, a senior security officer, said he did not believe more steps should "reasonably" have been taken to investigate ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan and his deputy, Shehzad Tanweer. |
Intelligence officers watched the pair meeting extremists planning a fertiliser bomb attack in 2004. | Intelligence officers watched the pair meeting extremists planning a fertiliser bomb attack in 2004. |
However, they did not identify them. | However, they did not identify them. |
The two men were among four suicide bombers who killed 52 people on 7 July 2005. | The two men were among four suicide bombers who killed 52 people on 7 July 2005. |
The bombers targeted Tube trains at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square, and a bus in Tavistock Square. | |
The top MI5 officer, giving evidence anonymously, insisted that there was not enough intelligence to make Khan and Tanweer priorities for surveillance before the July 7 2005 London bombings. | The top MI5 officer, giving evidence anonymously, insisted that there was not enough intelligence to make Khan and Tanweer priorities for surveillance before the July 7 2005 London bombings. |
James Eadie QC, counsel for the home secretary and MI5, asked him: "Knowing what you know now, do you consider that more steps should reasonably have been taken to investigate in particular Mohammad Sidique Khan and Tanweer?" | James Eadie QC, counsel for the home secretary and MI5, asked him: "Knowing what you know now, do you consider that more steps should reasonably have been taken to investigate in particular Mohammad Sidique Khan and Tanweer?" |
The senior security officer answered: "I do not." | The senior security officer answered: "I do not." |
Records searched | |
Mr Eadie continued: "Even if further steps had been taken, do you consider there to have been any realistic prospect of uncovering the 7/7 plot?" | Mr Eadie continued: "Even if further steps had been taken, do you consider there to have been any realistic prospect of uncovering the 7/7 plot?" |
To this, Witness G again replied: "I do not." | To this, Witness G again replied: "I do not." |
The inquests are considering whether MI5 could have drawn together different strands of intelligence about Khan's links with extremists and established that he was planning terror attacks. | |
A number of 7/7 survivors and relatives of those killed in the attacks argue that MI5 had enough information about the bomber to make him a priority for an in-depth investigation which would have uncovered his plot. | |
The inquest also heard that details of contact between Khan and a known Islamist in Leeds were not passed on to MI5 in June 2004. | |
MI5 officers investigating the fertiliser bomb plot made a formal request for the force to search its records for information about a "Sidique Khan", of Gregory Street, Batley, West Yorkshire. | |
He was the registered keeper of a Honda Civic that had travelled from Leeds to the home of fertiliser bomb plot ringleader Omar Khyam in Crawley, West Sussex. | |
The force's surveillance officers had watched Islamist Martin McDaid as he was given a short lift in Leeds in a BMW registered to "Sidique Khan" of Gregory Street, Batley in April 2003. | |
The information was recorded on the force's Special Branch computer system, known as Clue, but did not come up when it was searched for MI5 over a year later. | |
Assistant Chief Constable John Parkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, told the inquest the system appeared to be working correctly and he could not explain why the details were not returned. | |
"Exhaustive inquiries have reconstructed the search at that time. I cannot give you an explanation as to exactly why that name of Sidique Khan did not respond to a search against Sidique Khan," he said. | |
"There is no technical reason that we can find." | |
The inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London was adjourned until Monday. |
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