Inquiry to begin into terrorists’ bombing of arena

AN inquiry into the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena is to begin today.

The hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, chaired by Sir John Saunders, is set to hear from the families of the 22 people killed in the bombing at the end of the Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.

The inquiry is expected to run into spring 2021, and it will also hear evidence from witnesses from Great Manchester Police.

Its agenda is to investigate the circumstances of how the 22 victims lost their lives in the blast, looking at how suicide bomber Salman Abedi was radicalised, the events leading up to the attack and the emergency response.

It will also seek to find whether there were any missed opportunities to intervene or prevent the tragedy.

Among the 22 killed in the bombing were Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Adel, Leeds; Courtney Boyle, 19, a Leeds Beckett University student from Gateshead; Kelly Brewster, 32, from Sheffield; Wendy Fawell, 50, from Otley; and Angelika and Marcin Klis, a couple from York.

Loved ones of those who lost their lives will give evidence to paint a picture of who they were, while a minute’s silence is to be held at the beginning of today’s hearing to pay respects.

It comes as the brother of Salman Abedi was jailed last month for a minimum of 55 years by an Old Bailey judge for his part in the atrocity.

Hashem Abedi was convicted of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder of those who were seriously injured and conspiring to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told him that he “may never be released” from prison, with the sentence the longest passed down on record which was not a whole life order.

UK law prevents whole life orders from being given to defendants who were under the age of 21 at the time they committed the crime.

The opening section of the inquiry is expected to last for three days before hearing from victims’ family members.