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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paul Britton

Manchester Arena inquiry LIVE updates - MI5 evidence heard in 'closed' hearings to be made public

Evidence heard in 'closed' hearings of the Manchester Arena inquiry into the 2017 bombing is due to be made public today - Tuesday.

Three weeks of behind closed doors hearings were held in November.

Evidence concerning the response of MI5 and counter-terror police to the atrocity was discussed.

But the hearings were not open to the press or the families of victims.

In total, around 14 witnesses gave evidence at a secret location - four from MI5 and 10 from counter-terror policing, together with two inquiry-instructed experts.

Tributes to the victims in Manchester (STEVE ALLEN)

The hearings, held behind closed doors to protect national security, assessed what was, or wasn't, known about suicide bomber Salman Abedi, and others, and how intelligence was acted on.

The inquiry has already heard intelligence about Abedi received by MI5 in the months before the bombing was 'not fully appreciated' at the time, but was later classed as being 'highly relevant' to the attack.

It also emerged MI5 didn't tell counter-terror police about that intelligence.

Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, was expected to read out over 30 minutes a 'gist' of evidence deemed suitable to be publicly revealed.

It's understood it was the first time such sessions were held at a public inquiry or an inquest since 9/11.

The bombing after an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017, claimed 22 lives and injured hundreds more.

We'll bring you live updates from Tuesday's hearing below:

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