Manchester Arena Inquiry: Final report into bombing to be published

The Inquiry was set up in 2019 to find out what lessons could be leant to prevent future tragedies

A sea of tributes left at St Ann's Square in the days after the Manchester Arena bombing
Author: Dan DaviesPublished 2nd Mar 2023

The third and final report from the Manchester Arena Inquiry, which focuses on whether the attack could have been prevented, is to be published.

Inquiry chair Sir John Saunders will publish Volume 3 at 2pm on Thursday 2nd March 2023.

The findings will also contain details about the planning and preparation of the attack and the radicalisation of suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

The Inquiry was set up in 2019 to look into the deaths of the 22 victims, and to find out what lessons could be learnt to try to prevent a similar tragedy.

So far, two of three reports have been released; the first looked at the holes in the venue's security; the second detailed the failures of the emergency services on the night of attack in May 2017.

Figen Murray, who lost her son Martyn Hett in the attack, says she's expecting to hear about more failings.

She said: "If it's anything like Volume 1 and 2, I expect there will be a list of things that went wrong... and for me the main thing is that the same will happen, that those people who made mistakes will look at them and really try and rectify them ASAP"

Figen Murray lost her 29-year-old son Martyn Hett in the attack in May 2017

Figen also spoke about how she has coped when having to listen to findings of the Inquiry.

"Luckily I had this ability to section things off into different boxes, and I'll just sit there with my professional hat on, and not a mum hat.

"That way I can be focused on just the facts rather than dip in to my emotions."

Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.