Arena mum: Safety law is global legacy
THE campaigning mother of terror attack victim Martyn Hett has told the Daily Express a safety law in her son’s name could become a global legacy.
Martyn, 27, was killed when Islamic State-inspired Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a suicide bomb after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in May 2017.
Since then his mum Figen Murray has campaigned for legislation – dubbed Martyn’s Law – to force venues to ramp up security training and planning for terror atrocities.
Last night the 62-year-old grandmother received a Special Recognition prize at The MEN Pride of Manchester Awards with TSB for her work.
And she is now travelling across the world as no such venue legislation exists anywhere – meaning Martyn’s legacy could be to save millions of lives globally. Proud Figen said: “I was amazed to discover despite laws on the amount of toilets a venue must have, or how hot it must serve food that there’s no security law protecting customers’ lives in a crisis.
“Other countries are looking at it too. I’ve been to the US and soon heading to Turkey, Germany and Iceland to talk about it.
“So Martyn’s legacy could be a global venue safety law which would be incredible. It’s just about protecting lives. Hopefully by next spring it will be in action.”
Martyn’s Law requires venues with a capacity of more than 100 people to improve security against the threat of terrorism, to have a plan in place and train staff to Government guidelines.
Figen, from south Manchester, added: “Had Martyn’s Law been in place that night, we now know that precious lives would have been saved.
“It isn’t going to stop terrorism but could mean fewer suffer what I and the families of Manchester had to endure.”