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MI5 'too stretched' before 7 July MI5 'too stretched' before 7 July
(10 minutes later)
The security service did not have the manpower to do extra checks on the 7 July ringleader before he carried out the attacks in 2005, a report has said.The security service did not have the manpower to do extra checks on the 7 July ringleader before he carried out the attacks in 2005, a report has said.
But the Intelligence and Security Committee declined to criticise MI5, which it said had other priorities.But the Intelligence and Security Committee declined to criticise MI5, which it said had other priorities.
It stressed that while officers knew of Mohammad Sidique Khan's terrorist links, there was no evidence to suggest he was a threat to national security.It stressed that while officers knew of Mohammad Sidique Khan's terrorist links, there was no evidence to suggest he was a threat to national security.
Fifty-two people were killed in the suicide bombings in London in 2005.Fifty-two people were killed in the suicide bombings in London in 2005.
The long-awaited report describes in unprecedented detail what officers knew of Khan before the attacks.The long-awaited report describes in unprecedented detail what officers knew of Khan before the attacks.
It reveals that a police surveillance team photographed him in 2001 as part of an operation against suspected extremists.It reveals that a police surveillance team photographed him in 2001 as part of an operation against suspected extremists.
However, he was not identified from the picture - and his significance was only realised after the bombings.However, he was not identified from the picture - and his significance was only realised after the bombings.
'Astounding''Astounding'
The report reveals that MI5 teams were stretched almost to breaking point in 2004 - the year before the attacks - attempting to trace terror suspects around the UK.The report reveals that MI5 teams were stretched almost to breaking point in 2004 - the year before the attacks - attempting to trace terror suspects around the UK.
During that year, MI5 did not have the resources to watch 52 suspects who were classed as "essential targets".During that year, MI5 did not have the resources to watch 52 suspects who were classed as "essential targets".
In fact, the security service could only provide "reasonable" surveillance coverage of about one in 20 terror suspects - a fact the committee described as "astounding".In fact, the security service could only provide "reasonable" surveillance coverage of about one in 20 terror suspects - a fact the committee described as "astounding".
In that context, it said the decision not to follow Khan after he had initially appeared on radar was understandable, taking into account operational pressures.In that context, it said the decision not to follow Khan after he had initially appeared on radar was understandable, taking into account operational pressures.
But the MPs said that given the amount of information held on Khan, it was "surprising" that they did not identify him prior to 7 July.But the MPs said that given the amount of information held on Khan, it was "surprising" that they did not identify him prior to 7 July.
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