7/7 victim’s father hits out at MI5

‘They’re deliberately frustrating the inquest process’ — Graham Foulkes

ATTEMPTS by the security services to keep secret any failings over the 7/7 London bombings were condemned by the father of the Oldham victim as the inquest opened today.

Graham Foulkes, whose 22–year–old son David was killed in the Edgware Road bombing, said MI5’s attempts to keep details of its alleged failings secret were “really distressing” to the families.

At the inquests into the deaths of the 52 innocent people killed more than five years ago, when the attacks brought terror to London, bereaved families will finally have the chance to ask officials questions about whetherr more could have been done to prevent the attacks and save their loved ones’ lives.

The inquests have a wide–ranging remit to examine whether the emergency services’ response was adequate and whether MI5 and the police could have prevented the 2005 atrocities.

But, ahead of the opening, relatives expressed concerns about the Security Service’s apparent reluctance to assist the coroner’s investigation.

The Security Service last week angered families by proposing that the coroner, Lady Justice Hallett, should be allowed to sit in closed session to hear highly classified evidence.

Mr Foulkes, from Austerlands, said: “Here they are, drawing a salary to do a job which they clearly have not done.

“And they’re employing every legal twist they possibly can not to be accountable.

“It really adds to the anguish that we’re all feeling. It’s very clear that they just waved two fingers at the coroner. They’re deliberately frustrating the process.”

Mr Foulkes said he will be at the opening of the inquests and will attend as many other days of evidence as he can.

Four suicide bombers armed with home-made explosives packed into rucksacks launched co–ordinated attacks on three Tube trains and a bus on July 7, 2005, in Britain’s worst terrorist atrocity since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

It has taken so long to hold the inquests because they could not start until after the trial of three men accused of helping the attackers choose their targets.

The trio were cleared of the charge at Kingston Crown Court last year, although two of them were convicted of conspiracy to attend a terrorist training camp.

The inquests, which are being held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and are expected to last up to five months, will begin with a two–day opening statement.