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UK government seeks to withhold MI5 files from Manchester synagogue attack inquest

Ministers argue disclosing the intelligence would harm national security, prompting the coroner to consider a statutory public inquiry.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 17:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • UK Home Office lawyers requested that intelligence material from MI5 and counter-terrorism police be excluded from the inquest into the 2025 Manchester synagogue attack.
  • Families of the victims expressed concern that the sensitive files might contradict prior official statements claiming the attacker was unknown to security services.
  • Chief Coroner Alexia Durran is weighing whether to request that the inquest be converted into a statutory public inquiry to examine the classified evidence in closed sessions.

Key facts

  • Government lawyers representing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood applied to block MI5 and counter-terrorism police intelligence files from being disclosed at the inquest, citing risks to national security.[The Guardian]
  • The October 2025 attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew synagogue resulted in the fatal stabbing of Melvin Cravitz by Jihad al-Shamie, while Adrian Daulby died from a police gunshot while attempting to hold the doors shut.[The Guardian]
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had previously told Parliament that al-Shamie was not known to counter-terrorism police or security services prior to the attack.[The Guardian]
  • Counsel for the inquest stated that the withheld material is relevant and so sensitive that it cannot be released publicly even in redacted form.[The Guardian]
  • Because coroner's inquests are legally barred from holding secret hearings, Chief Coroner Alexia Durran is considering converting the proceedings into a statutory public inquiry.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the withheld intelligence files contradict the government's earlier statements regarding what authorities knew about the attacker before the incident.[The Guardian]
  • Whether the coroner will formally request the government to convert the inquest into a statutory public inquiry.[The Guardian]

Sources