Bomb survivors press for July 7 inquiry

Survivors and relatives of victims of the July 7 bomb attacks have called for an inquiry into the revelation that MI5 had come across two of the suicide bombers a year before the attacks took place.

It emerged on Monday at the end of the year-long trial of five men over a fertiliser bomb plot that 7/7 bombers Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer had been observed meeting with the ringleader Omar Khyam in 2004. However, they were not identified as priority targets for surveillance by MI5.

Members of the 7/7 Inquiry Group delivered a letter calling for an inquiry to be held to Home Secretary John Reid on Tuesday.

However, Mr Reid has ruled out holding an inquiry, pointing out that three people are currently awaiting trial charged in connection with the attacks, as well as saying that it would divert too many MI5 officers from investigating other potential terrorist plots.

However, he has asked the Intelligence and Security Committee to examine why the July 7 bombers were not picked up.

The Prime Minister has also rejected calls for a public inquiry, but Mr Blair said that he understood why families of the victims would want one. Speaking on GMTV on Tuesday he said: "The problem if you have an independent public inquiry into something like this is you will divert all their energy and attention into trying to answer the questions that come up in the inquiry."

However, both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have called for a public inquiry to be held.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The information revealed in this trial will spark widespread public concern and debate about the operational capabilities of the security service, and the reliability of government information in the aftermath of the 7th July bombings.

"While the security service has a difficult role to play and cannot be expected to succeed every time, serious questions must be asked about key operational decisions."

(KMcA/SP)