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Inquiry into 7/7 branded 'whitewash' by victims
Martin Bentham19.05.09
Survivors and victims' relatives of the July 7 London bombings today branded an official inquiry into the terror attacks “a complete whitewash”.
Today's report - the most detailed yet into the suicide bombings - cleared MI5 and police of blame despite new evidence showing the extent of their prior knowledge of the terrorists.
The report by the Parliament Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) published today said that it was “understandable and reasonable” that the bombers had not been detected and that the judgments made by the security service before July 2005 could not be criticised.
The conclusion came despite the revelation that the ringleader of the 7/7 attacks, Mohammed Sidique Khan, and another of the bombers Shezhad Tanweer had been repeatedly observed by officers while meeting other known terrorists more than a year before the London bombings.
The ISC report highlighted severe shortages in personnel that led to possible terror suspects never being investigated or put under surveillance. In 2004 MI5 failed to monitor 54 “essential” targets.
The committee concluded that resources were so stretched agents could not even assess whether “desirable” targets should be examined in more detail unless they were known to be plotting an attack.
But the relatives of victims reacted angrily to the ISC's conclusion. They said it was proof an independent, public inquiry was now needed into the attacks on the Underground and a bus in which 52 people were murdered by four suicide bombers.
Sean Cassidy, 61, whose 22-year-old son Ciaran died on the tube at Kings Cross, said today: “This is a complete whitewash. We now need a public inquiry. It is the only thing that will answer all the questions. It has to be independent. We are four years on and there are still no answers.”
John Falding, whose partner Anat Rosenberg, 29, died on the Number 30 bus, said: “These findings are very disappointing. It has not really taken us much further than the ISC's previous report three years ago. It was painful reading then and it is clearly painful reading now. To know they came so close to catching the terrorists is hard to take.
“It is very clear there was a breakdown in communications between police, Special Branch and MI5. I have some sympathy for MI5 and the police. The main culprits are the people who didn't provide them with sufficient resources to carry out the surveillance.”
Rachel North, who was injured in the bombings and who has led the campaign for an official inquiry, said: “Today we have seen extraordinary levels of detail which manages to fundamentally miss the big picture. There was a failure of imagination, a failure of intelligence and a failure of communication that led to the tragedy.”
Clifford Tibber, a lawyer representing 25 victims' families and survivors, said: “All they have done is gone back and asked the same questions as they did in the previous failed report and got slightly different answers and reached precisely the same conclusions.
“This isn't an independent committee as they claim. It has been a group of MPs that have been hand-picked by the Prime Minister. We don't know what evidence they received in secret, if it was challenged and how it was challenged. They got it wrong the first time round so how can the public possibly have confidence in this report.”
Today's report lists four separate meetings attended by Khan, Tanweer and other known terrorists and also gives details of how M15 twice followed Khan's car back to addresses in Leeds.
It also revealed how two phone numbers linked Khan to another plot to blow up the Bluewater shopping centre and Ministry of Sound nightclub.
In a further disclosure today's report also reveals that a photograph of Khan was taken in 2001 when he attended an outdoor camp with other terror suspects.
Despite this, however, MI5 failed to identify Khan or Tanweer - both of whom were judged to be potential “facilitators” involved in low-level financial fraud rather than active attack planning - until after the 7 July bombings had occurred.
It states that MI5 and police were right to focus on other higher priority terror suspects, and insists that given what was known at the time there was nothing to indicate that any of the 7/7 bombers presented a threat to the UK before carrying out their deadly mission.
“We cannot criticise the judgment made by MI5 and the police based on the information that they had and their priorities at the time,” the report states. “Even considering material that was discovered after 7/7, we believe that decisions made in 2004 and 2005 were understandable and reasonable.”
The report adds that MI5 would need an unachievable “several hundred thousand officers” to provide comprehensive intelligence coverage. It currently employs 3,500.
The report - which is based on evidence submitted in private by MI5, police and others - was ordered in response to evidence that emerged during the trial of the Bluewater plotters and other recent terror prosecutions and set out in detail all that was known about the links between Khan and Tanweer and other terror suspects.
Reader views (18)
It's only a bunch of silly 'conpiracy theorists' come on government you have nothing to worry about by having a proper independent inquiry. Surely you can't be afraid of a few conspiracy theorists you murderers?
- Scott, UK
At least you've got it spot on Rob.
Most seemingly don't have a clue. At least down here, anyway.
- Mark, sydney
Confidence in the report? How could we have confidence in anything these criminal fraudsters do? The story is so full of holes it's laughable anyone believes anything the government says about 7/7. They did it. We know they did it and eventually all the sordid details about who and how they did it will emerge. They also carried out 9/11, Bali, Oklahoma, Madrid, the IRA campaign and many others. They rule via Probelm Reaction Solution so of course THEY have to provide the problem... terrorism.
- Rob O'Loughlin, United Kingdom
So MI5 didn't do anything even though Khan and Tanweer were meeting with other potential terrorists. What if they met with those people, FOR, MI5. Just a thought.
- Matthew Page, Chesham
So now we know for sure that we can not trust this Govenment we have had the bankers robbing the country and no one has gone to prison we now see that the PMs that we voted in and pay for they are above the law. And people still believe that Muslims want to take over and what? that they are jealous of our democracy and what is that they right to free speech and? Do people still believe the 7/7 was done by Muslims really? like the 9/11 was done by them. We are encouraged in this country to have the serf mentality everyone envies us and wants to be us. Not true we invaded another country so that the over inflated egos of Blair and Bush and Brown and his cronies know this and the blaming of bombing in England is because if they did it ? because they do not want their families killed and their country invaded and told what to do and how only white countries know the secret of democracy is and believe they have the right to enforce this on others. Well the Govenment has shown how corrupt they are Brown having his virgin television paid for while living free and of the back of all. And they will expect everyone to not say anything and allow our rights to be taken yet, they can do as they please so you believe anything that come out of the mouths of the British Govenment more fool you.
- Denise Freeman, Merseyside
Lloyd - "the blame for all our present terrorist problems are down to Liberty, the PC brigade and how our Judges define the Human Rights Law." you clearly did not re-read this garbage after you dribbled it onto the screen. What you wrote is totally vacuous and stupid. Whatever the truth of the 7/7 bombings, it has nothing to do with the factors you ludicrously invoke. The bombings likely cause was the terrorist criminal invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq that prompted four misguided individuals to plot some stupid horrible 'revenge' - or the causes were far more sinister...either way your duff argument shows you up as a key representative of the gormless xenophobe right whingers whose views defile comments section.
- Steve, Huddersfield
Religion is the cause of most evils; the leaders use religion to gain power for themselves; it has nothing to do with God or being holy etc.
- Mickyinlondon, london
We are the expendable cannon fodder of socialist and Tory political expediency. We can die so they can appease. Your family can be blown to smithereens but you must not offend Islam. Another reason NOT TO VOTE LABOUR OR TORY!!!!
- Richard K, Nottingham
All British politicians will sacrifice members of the public if it is in their interest.
- Nick Holland, glasgow
Hardly surprising.Despite the fact that these people wanted to blow the public away,we still tread carefully for fear of causing offence.Ironic really and quite sickening.
Still proud to be 'British' out there?You're a joke.
- Steve, London
No use blaming our security services and the police, the blame for all our present terrorist problems are down to Liberty, the PC brigade and how our Judges define the Human Rights Law. We need a new law, were the right to remain in this country can be revoked for terrorists offences, not only for the guilty person but his family...a few deportations without the right of appeal would soon sort out our problems. This country has been to soft for too long, we struggled to get back on our feet after the last war....thanks to Pc Brigade,Financial sector and Labour we are now back to square one again.
- Lloyd, Glan Conwy
MI5 R too busy controlling the rest of us.
- Scunibuni, GOOLE
The truth of the matter is that Labour and the Conservatives and Liberals too, cannot ideologically allow any criticism or impediment of any favourite organisation or individual, in this case Muslim or Muslim organisation, even if it means some people die or suffer horribly.
- Helen, norwich
Mohammed Sidique Khan was even shown around Parliament by the Labour MP, Jon Trickett as his guest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Khan's mother-in-law was invited to a Palace garden party. Yep really shows how our politicians help terrorists get an inside view. Now I have never had an MP invite me as a guest to the House of Commons nor been invited to the palace for a garden party.
- Richard K, Nottingham
It would have been politically incorrect to arrest or search him and against his human rights blah blah blah. These things happen get real it is not a perfect world but is full of nasty evil thugs who should have no rights and I deplore people like liberty (aka Shami Chakrabarti) who moan when these creatures are court. The whole reason Guantanamo bay was created and why Obama is having problems closing it. The system is a mess, if you have a heart full of hate the state should be able to return the hate.
- Gary, Brentwood
Well,with 640 MPs expenses to pay for,im not surprised the pot was empty.
- Dave, london
Aren't we in an interesting position where the police/secret service are dammed if they arrest people on suspicion but no proof and condemned when they don't arrest ( some might say persecute because of their religion) and the person then goes on to commit a terrorist atrocity. Why not introduce unlimited detention for all people who express the ideology of militant Islam. Maybe send them somewhere warm to lessen the hardship. Cuba comes to mind.
- Gazza, London,England
Lack of funding indeed. Its just nulabour got its priorities wrong... just imagine what could have been done if the funds had not been spent on ID cards for starters.
- Tony Islander, Herts
