Call for independent 7/7 inquiry
Updated on 01 May 2007
7/7 survivors want an independent inquiry after MI5 confirmed two of the attackers had links to the fertiliser bomb plotters.
As they delivered a letter to the Home Secretary calling for a full investigation, the Attorney General told Channel 4 News he intends to review the way the way the fertiliser bomb trial was conducted.
He was responding to unease about the length and £50 million cost of the trial. A Criminal Bar Association report, seen by this programme, has found that the trial sat for only half the available days.
An 'independent' inquiry
The following extract is taken from last night's Jon Snow interview with home secretary John Reid.
Jon Snow: Are you going to have an independent inquiry to restore confidence given the oversight committee simply is not seen as independent?
John Reid: I have already announced today that we have asked the intelligence and security committee...
Jon Snow: No, an independent inquiry. Not appointed by the prime minister - independent.
John Reid: That is an independent inquiry that consists of people from all three political parties, some of whom would regard it as maligning if told they were merely toadies of the prime minister. What I don't want to do is have public inquiry [which takes energies and resources from the security services main task of tackling terrorism].
Jon Snow: Home secretary, I think we can take it as no there won't be an independent inquiry.
John Reid: ... you might be interested to know why, because it would have to be deferred to after the trial of the three people who have now been charged with 7/7 activities.
