MI5 downgraded intelligence on Manchester Arena bomber, inquiry hears

Senior officer says two pieces of highly relevant' intelligence on Salman Abedi were received before attack

A senior MI5 officer has told the Manchester Arena inquiry that the intelligence agency downgraded what turned out to be highly relevant" evidence about the suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

Speaking from behind wooden screens, the officer, named only as Witness J, said there were two pieces of intelligence received by MI5 about Abedi in the months before the attack which were assessed at the time to relate to possibly non-nefarious or non-terrorist criminality.