THE Manchester Arena bomber had appeared in MI5 investigations on more than 18 separate occasions, the public inquiry heard yesterday.
The suspicions about Salman Abedi included him travelling to Istanbul, a known gateway for extremists heading to Syria, in May 2016 — the year before the atrocity.
But MI5 “discounted” the information when he did not go.
It was also told of his “pro-IS views”.
MI5 admitted information in “mid 2016” led it to consider re-opening the case but a meeting was not scheduled.
The Security Service also had two other pieces of information so critical it will have to be heard behind closed doors.
But its QC Cathryn McGahey pledged: “There is no question of secrecy being used to conceal failure.”
The suicide bombing killed 22 in May 2017.
The inquiry continues.
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