Key facts
- Ministers are seeking to prevent MI5 files from being disclosed at an inquest into the 2025 Manchester synagogue attack.
- The Home Secretary's lawyers argue that disclosure would risk national security.
- Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed in the attack.
- The inquest will investigate the attacker's background and state knowledge prior to the event.
- Families of the victims are concerned that MI5 material may contradict official statements about the attacker not being known to security services.
- The chief coroner may convert the inquest into a public inquiry to allow sensitive evidence to be heard privately.
Ministers are actively working to prevent sensitive intelligence material from being presented during an inquest into the deaths of two men, Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who were killed in the 2025 Manchester synagogue attack. Lawyers representing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood argued before a coroner that the disclosure of MI5 files would pose a significant threat to national security.
The inquest, overseen by Chief Coroner Alexia Durran, is scheduled to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Cravitz, who died from multiple stab wounds, and Daulby, who was killed by a police gunshot while holding the synagogue doors shut against the attacker, Jihad al-Shamie. The proceedings will delve into al-Shamie's background, what the state knew about him prior to the attack, security measures at the Heaton Park Hebrew synagogue, and the state's assessment of risks to the Jewish community.
Concerns have been raised by the families of the victims, with barristers suggesting that the emergence of MI5 material could potentially contradict previous statements made by the Home Secretary to the House of Commons, which indicated that al-Shamie was not known to counter-terrorism policing or security services. Lawyers for the families cited a "demonstrable lack of candour" by security services in other past proceedings.
Edward Pleeth, counsel to the inquest, informed the hearing that the government seeks to withhold "potentially relevant security sensitive material" held by MI5 and counter-terrorism police, judging it would "cause serious harm to national security" if disclosed. The inquest legal team believes the material is too sensitive to be aired even in a redacted form, with "no adequate alternative to complete non-disclosure".
Durran is now considering whether to transform the inquest into a statutory public inquiry, which would allow for secret hearings of the MI5 material, as coroner's inquests cannot legally consider evidence presented in closed sessions. Home Office representation described the MI5 material as a "discrete body of information" that is "relevant and has the potential to impact the inquest", asserting the application to withhold it was "cogent, compelling and supported by detailed analysis".
Jihad al-Shamie, a Syrian-born UK citizen, launched the attack while reportedly wearing a suicide vest and pledged allegiance to Islamic State during a 999 call before police arrived. Separately, Mohammad Asim Bashir, who conducted hostile reconnaissance with al-Shamie at a military base, was jailed for life for preparing acts of terror. Additionally, Hekmat Omar Ali Hakim has been charged with failing to disclose information related to the synagogue attack.