Security guard at Arena ‘ was naive about terrorism’

A MANCHESTER Arena security guard who was working on the night of Salman Abedi’s suicide bombing has told a public inquiry he was “naive” about terrorism.

Kyle Lawler, who was 18 at the time, was on duty when a colleague, Mohammed Agha, told him a member of the public had raised concerns about Abedi, who was hanging around outside the Arena at an Ariana Grande concert.

The suicide bomber, dressed all in black and carrying a large, bulky rucksack, was reported by concerned parent Christopher Wild, who thought it looked “dodgy” and had asked Abedi what he had in his backpack.

Mr Wild told the inquiry he felt “fobbed off” when he raised the matter to security, but Mr Agha said he could not immediately pass on the concerns as he was guarding a fire exit and it was practice never to leave those unattended.

Instead, eight minutes later, he told Mr Lawler because he had a radio, for him to pass on the report.

The public inquiry in Manchester has heard that Mr Lawler, who is continuing his evidence later, claims he struggled to radio the control room to pass on the information.

Minutes later Abedi, 22, left his position out of sight of CCTV in the foyer of the Arena, known as the City Room, and walked towards the crowd emerging at the end of the gig at 10.31pm on May 22, 2017. He killed 22 people and injured many more.

Mr Lawler told the inquiry he had had some counter- terrorism training provided by his employer Showsec, and he was aware the terror threat level at the time was “severe”, meaning an attack was likely.

He said: “I think I was naive at the time to the situation. It was one of those things, it was possible but it wouldn’t happen to me.”

The public inquiry is looking at the background circumstances before and during the bombing and is expected to last into next spring. The hearing continues.