Aibu to think it was unfair to name the security guards who made mistakes in the Manchester arena bombings

[Newpuppymummy]

They were young security guards and made huge mistakes but I do think it was very unfair to name them. I think one of them was 19 at the time. I wonder about the training they were given. they have to live with what they did or didn’t do for the rest of their lives. The police who went for a two hour food break to a kebab house 5 miles away were not named

There is blame to be accepted by the security company whose training was woefully inadequate. There should have been a very clear system in place regarding passing information about any perceived threat up the line to someone who could ultimately order an armed response. Why this wasn't a basic requirement beggars belief.

There have been so many mistakes both before and after the incident; it is truly shocking. We do need to know the truth of it all and the chairman has said his job is not to apportion blame to individuals but to identify failings in the system so these can be learned from and I think that he has done a good job of that on the whole.

I've seen a lot of the enquiry process on TV ( local news which has covered it thoroughly as well as the Manchester Evening News ) and not only do we know the names of the young security guards but we have seen their faces too. I admired their courage in attending to answer questions in person when older and often wealthier men have often dodged facing up to the consequences of their actions in court, feigning ill health etc. Maybe they could have done so from behind a screen though?

I think Sir John Saunders has done an efficient and comapssionate job heading up this enquiry and my impression is that the families have felt listened to in a way the Hillsborough families did not. It was very sad to watch and listen to but very important that the families were given time to talk about their loved ones during the enquiry and this was also covered thoroughly in the local media. i haven't seen the bereaved families put at the heart of such an enquiry like this before and that was impressive, however the truths that have been uncovered have been very hard to hear.

For anyone who wants to read in more detail anout the enquiry, I recommend the Manchester Evening New's coverage, easy to find online.

highlandcoo that's very well put.

It's important the obvious SYSTEMIC issues are looked into and learned from. Names and photos were not at all necessary.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000x9xf/the-manchester-arena-inquiry-security-under-the-spotlight

It's appalling they were named, as if they haven't been through enough.
I honestly think we need armed Police at events like this. It's ridiculous that we don't have. I was in Italy just before lockdown and it was actually reassuring to have armed Police/soldiers on the streets.

@BettyBurntBuns

But Islam is never blamed

Why should 'Islam be blamed'? the Koran doesn't tell people to go and blow up concert venues, does it?

Security staff at venues aren't police.

Also, if security had flagged up the middle eastern guy with a rucksack as a threat and were wrong, they'd have been flayed alive for it.

The fault lies with the bomber and the scum who radicalized him.

So anyone can expect to walk about with a bomb and not be challenged? Yes the fault is with the bomber, but the security staff and Police should be protecting the general public. Interestingly the member of the public who tried to report the bomber had actually asked him what he was doing before he reported him.

Yes he was very proactive.

Rucksacks are not normal at a concert. It's not a railway station.

I agree with you.

There were a catalogue of failings both on the night and beforehand, by MI5, the venue, the security firm, police, emergency services, and medics.

I find it very uncomfortable that some young men on minimum wage are the ones being named and shamed.

I think that a lot of people do not realise how long it takes for the police to turn up when requested by security staff. Literally hours. They don't arrive any quicker if its a bigger venue, or if the threat isn't immediate. Sometimes even if the threat is immediate. Or ongoing.

And that most venues have a "hands off" approach for security staff. The regulations regarding terrorism last time my dh did the "training" was basically to watch, stay back, do not alert the suspected terrorist, phone authorities, make sure CCTV is watching them.

I guess that's what needs to be highlighted and learned from post Bataclan and Manchester Arena.

We used to go to Proms in the Park. There was a 'no glass bottles' rule. After the bag search I heard a woman boasting that they'd missed the three bottles in her trolley. So they could have missed anything else hidden in a bag. I don't think any large events are safe. Having said that we were at Prince Harry's last appearance at the Mountbatten Festival of Music and they had the sniffer dogs in, so maybe if Royalty are due to be present...

@BettyBurntBuns

But Islam is never blamed

No, because Islam hasn't blown anybody up. The bomber did that.

I think you are spot on there Gladimnotcamping, both on safety of the general public and VIPs.