The chief coroner has called for a public inquiry into the Manchester synagogue attack, citing the need to hear sensitive evidence from the security service MI5. Judge Durran made the recommendation following a pre-inquest hearing on September 4.
A public inquiry, unlike a standard inquest, has the authority to conduct some hearings in private, excluding the press and public. This capability is deemed necessary due to the classified nature of the MI5 material. Lawyers representing the government stated that disclosing this information publicly would harm national security.
Conversely, legal representatives for the families of the victims have questioned the necessity of private hearings for MI5 material, particularly since authorities had previously stated that the attacker, Al-Shamie, was not known to security services.
The attack occurred on October 2 of the previous year. Al-Shamie drove into the perimeter gates of the synagogue and subsequently attacked worshippers with a knife while wearing a mock suicide belt. Melvin Cravitz died from multiple stab wounds, and Adrian Daulby was killed by a bullet fired by armed police who responded to the scene.