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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.
Dominic Casciani,Home affairs correspondent
This very detailed report lifts the lid on the security services in a way we've not seen before.
It clears MI5 of failing to anticipate the 7/7 attacks because it had so much on its plate in 2004. Quite simply, Mohammad Siddique Khan was not listed as an essential target.
Why? Because he had not been identified.
That's not to say the security service and police didn't know anything about him. We've now learned that police filmed him in 2001 when he went camping with known extremists.
But by 2004 MI5 still didn't know "what" Khan was: they knew he was hanging around with terror suspects - but insist there was no intelligence that he was a security threat.
It's this critical difference between "who" and "what" that the security service relies upon amid accusations that it had seen enough dots - but failed to join them up.
'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".
Resources were so stretched that officers could not even assess whether "desirable" targets should be examined more closely unless they were known to be actively plotting an attack.
MI5 currently employs 3,500 officers. The committee said it would need an unachievable "several hundred thousand" to provide comprehensive intelligence coverage.
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.


Were you affected by the July 7th bombings in London? What is your reaction to the report? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Were you affected by the July 7th bombings in London? What is your reaction to the report? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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