Manchester Arena Inquiry to publish first report into bomb attack

The Manchester Arena Inquiry is to publish its first report into the deaths of the 22 victims of the attack on 22nd May 2017.

The Inquiry began in September 2020 to investigate the deaths of the victims.

This volume, the first of three, will examine the security arrangements in place at the Manchester Arena.

It will be published at 2pm today when the Chairman, Sir John Saunders, will make a short statement to the Inquiry at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

Last month, Sir John explained to the Inquiry that he would be making some recommendations so that it can feed into the consultation on the Protect Duty.

He explained that they will only focus on venues like arenas: "I have made recommendations in the report, as you will see when it comes out, as to the Protect Duty, but in order to avoid people having unduly optimistic views about what I’m going to deal with, I am only dealing with recommendations as to the Protect Duty as it applies to similar areas to the arena, so places where public performances are being carried on and where they are large arenas.

"So I just want to limit expectations as to that. I will deal, and I hope I’ve dealt in some detail, with the sort of recommendations of the Protect Duty which I think are appropriate for places like the arena, but I have not gone on to consider everywhere. I hope everyone understands the reasons for it , because I just haven’t heard the evidence relating to it."

'Hopefully the report will reassure us that that things are going to be put right'

A public consultation is currently underway on the Protect Duty, a law which will require owners and operators of public spaces and venues to put in place measures to keep the public safe from a terrorist attack.

It will also encompass Martyn's Law. It's the work of Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was among the 22 victims to die in the attack.

Figen told us what she's hoping to see in the first report: "The government has ordered this Inquiry, so I'm hoping they will take notice of any recommendations and hopefully a lot of changes can be made and this sort of tragedy can be prevented in the future.

"The Inquiry fills in the gaps, certainly in my head. It's important to hear it again as uncomfortable as it is.

"We need to, as families, know what went wrong. And hopefully the report will reassure us that things are going to be put right."

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