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MI6 chiefs to face tough inquiry over 7/7 attacks
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor7 Jul 2009
The most far-ranging parliamentary inquiry into the 7 July bombings and other terrorist incidents in Britain was launched by MPs today.
MI5 and MI6 chiefs, as well as terrorism experts, will be asked to give evidence to the Commons home affairs committee.
As a monument to the victims was unveiled in Hyde Park on the fourth anniversary of the London bombings, MPs said the Tube remains “extremely vulnerable” to attack and warned against complacency.
The inquiry will re-examine what security services knew before 7/7, what should have been done and the Government's response — including the emergency Cobra committee.
MPs will assess any “common threads” between 7 July, the failed bombings on 21 July and other terrorist incidents. These include the Crevice case, which saw five men jailed for life for an al Qaeda-linked bomb plot whose targets included a nightclub and shopping centre. Some of the Crevice plotters met two of the 7 July suicide bombers. The inquiry will re-open questions over the report by the intelligence and security committee, which cleared MI5 and the police of blame for 7/7, despite new evidence revealing their knowledge of some of the bombers.
The ISC said it was "understandable and reasonable" that the terrorists had not been detected before the attacks, in which 52 people were murdered by four suicide bombers.
But survivors and victims' relatives dismissed it as "a complete whitewash".
Members of the security and intelligence services may be more guarded with MPs on the home affairs committee. So while the inquiry will be more wide-ranging, it may have more difficulty obtaining information.
Another focus of the inquiry will be the Cobra committee after Andy Hayman, the former head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism operations, recently described it as "a nonsensical system". Mr Hayman was at Cobra meetings during the London bombings.
The former counter-terrorism chief criticised Cobra as too bureaucratic, overly political and cumbersome. Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a member of the home affairs committee, said: "This will be the biggest inquiry into July 7 and terrorist incidents in Britain."
Mr Mercer chaired a home affairs sub-committee whose report on the Government's Contest counter-terrorism strategy was published today.
While praising the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, the committee issued warnings over measures to protect the Tube and the 2012 Olympics in London.
Prince Charles was today due to officially unveil the memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of 7 July bombings.
The £1million London Bombing Memorial is made up of 52 stainless steel pillars, each representing one of the victims.
Reader views (4)
It's a delicate question and no politican likes it. How comfortable iro terrorism issues are we with the current Human Rights and Civil Liberties etc. We have a convicted terrorist, British born, saying he was tortured and MI5 / 6 offerred him finnacial compensation. If he was not tortured and innocent people died it would be a huge tragedy and probably has happened.
The laws need to re-examined and in suspicion of terrorism greater leeway be allowed and to hell with that persons humnan rights.
The innocent would have nothing to fear.
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town, 07/07/2009 12:53
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If this newspaper had the courage to investigate the truth about who was behind 7/7, then we might get somewhere. The official story is a load of rubbish. Why on earth do so many people fall for the lies vomited up by politicians when five minutes examining the events of 7/7 will expose the lie?
- Neil, London, London UK, 07/07/2009 12:39
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This is another load of BULL. The question remains, why did these people target the UK . What had we dine to seek revenge on the people of London. The same applies to the attacks on New York.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 07/07/2009 12:33
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Waste of money and unsightly.
- Steve, London, 07/07/2009 12:11
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