Now we must have public inquiry: 7/7 dad

THE father of an Austerlands man killed in the London terror attacks has called for a public inquiry to determine whether the atrocities could have been prevented.

Graham Foulkes’ son David (22) was one of 52 people killed when four suicide bombers detonated explosives in the capital on July 7, 2005.

The former pupil at Hulme Grammar School and Oldham Sixth Form College was killed instantly when bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan detonated explosives close to the Edgware Road tube station.

Coroner Lady Justice Hallett ruled the victims of the terror attacks were unlawfully killed following a five-month inquest into the deaths.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Foulkes (59) called for a public inquiry with “a much broader scope and a much broader remit” than the inquest.

Families of those who lost their lives were able to hear previously unheard details of the attacks, such as the response of the emergency services and information held by MI5 and the Security Service in the years leading up to the bombings.

Lady Justice Hallett made a series of recommendations in a bid to minimise the risk of similar incidents in the future.

But she said the evidence she heard does not justify the conclusion that any failings of any organisation or individual caused or contributed to the deaths, and that each of the 52 victims would have died, whatever time the emergency services reached and rescued them. MI5 was ordered to review its procedures on showing photographs of suspects to informants and concern was expressed about the Security Service’s record-keeping. Mr Foulkes said his attitude to MI5 would be different if they had approached the families in 2005, admitted they made a bad judgement and apologised. But he added that the inquest “causes a lot more questions to be asked than it answers.

“It really must compel Theresa May to review the whole operation of the Security Services in the UK, not just MI5. There is no single overarching authority to knock heads together and makes sure something happens and the coroner’s recommendations are implemented. That’s a great concern for me.

“The recommendations were very serious, very wide-ranging and they really need implementing. Theresa May should have the whole country looking at her to make sure that something happens.”

Lady Justice Hallett also recommended reviews of training for frontline emergency services staff, the way in which agencies are informed of major incidents, how a rendezvous point is organised in the event of a major incident and first aid supplies on transport networks.

She also expressed concern over the limited resources available to the London Air Ambulance, which does not receive full public funding and relies on volunteer donors.

Oldhamers came together in the days following David’s death and a special memorial service was held in Alexandra Park by representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Muslim faiths to mount a united front against terrorism.