Police 'were consulted' over 7/7 inquiry

Last updated at 13:01 15 December 2005


Sir Ian Blair has admitted that the Government consulted the police before deciding not to proceed with an inquiry into the July 7 bombings.

The decision has led to accusations that the Government is running scared of a potentially devastating investigation into the tragedy.

The decision to avoid an independent investigation into Britain's worst ever terrorist atrocity was condemned by survivors, victims' relatives, MPs and Muslim Groups.

However, Britain's most senior police chief today backed the Government's decision not to hold a full public inquiry into the July 7 London bombings.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair said the "narrative" of events which has been planned instead must cover the unanswered questions surrounding the attacks.

Sir Ian also revealed that his force had been spoken to over the decision.

The Commissioner said he believed the narrative idea was a "good compromise" - so long as it addressed the outstanding issues over the attacks, including the speculation as to whether there was a fifth bomber and whether police had any advance warning.

"We were consulted over that idea," Sir Ian said when asked about the public inquiry.

"I am clear that there has to be an account because I do not think you can have the greatest act of mass murder in modern criminal history without an account as we would end up with 56 very short inquests. That is insufficient process and does not do justice to the memories of those who died.

"At the same time we are continuing a major criminal inquiry into July 7 and July 21, we are flat out - as I said to the police authority - looking to prevent further attacks and I think we would have a worry about the scale of the proposed public inquiry that some people are calling for.

"I think the narrative is a good compromise but it does have to explain some of the questions people are raising which they fear will not be answered."

Asked to identify what the questions were, Sir Ian replied: "Was there a fifth bomber? Did we know about it in advance? I am sure that narrative must cover these points."

The Commissioner said he expected the narrative to emerge "relatively quickly" and that it would probably be presented to the Home Affairs Select Committee.

"We will contribute to it," he added.

Victims' anger

Victims of the attacks have called for a full public inquiry into the attacks. Solicitor Colin Ettinger, who represents 14 victims said: "There are those who want to know if anything could have been done to prevent it and the lessons that must be learnt to make sure that it can never happen again."

The July 7 bombings killed 52 innocent people in addition to the four suicide bombers who detonated rucksack devices on three tube trains and a bus.

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