Featured Image Credit: ITV/PA
Topics: TV And Film
Lucy Devine
Viewers were heartbroken on Monday evening, when ITV aired the first episode of its two-part documentary, Worlds Collide: The Manchester Bombing.
The documentary takes a look at the events of 22nd May 2017, when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, that killed 22 people, some of whom were children.
Examining the evidence, viewers were shown CCTV footage of Abedi carrying a 65 litre backpack through both Manchester Victoria train station and the arena where an Ariana Grande concert was taking place.
You can watch the clip below:
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After watching the footage, people were particularly alarmed that Abedi hadn't been stopped by police or security.
One wrote: "I'd never seen the CCTV footage of terrorist Salman Abedi struggling to walk due to the weight of his backpack bomb. How on earth did he manage to make it to the lobby without being challenged? It looks so suspicious, it's unreal."
While another said: "Was there not someone monitoring those cctv cameras and seeing the bomber walking around so many times with his heavy rucksack?"
And a third added: "This CCTV of the bomber going all round Manchester unchecked is hard to watch."
Meanwhile a fourth tweeted: "Knowing what terror he was about to unleash, the cctv featured in #WorldsCollide is certainly a tough watch."
The inquiry into what happened on the evening in May 2017 began in September 2020.
It highlighted several failures, including missed opportunities by authorities, and noted that Abedi should have been identified as a threat by arena security.
One devastating report reveals how a member of the public had alerted staff to a suspicious individual with a backpack, but after attempting to radio in to the control room, security were unable to make contact.
It also adds that despite five officers being assigned to the arena, “there was a complete absence of any British Transport Police officer in the City Room” in the half hour before the bomb detonated.
There were also criticisms over decisions not to question Abedi after he returned to the UK from Libya four days prior.
He was never stopped or questioned despite knowledge of terrorist connections.
Greater Manchester Police admitted it made errors on the night, with deputy chief constable Ian Pilling apologising "unreservedly" for failings by his force.
"I would like to offer condolences from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to all those who lost loved ones, who suffered injuries or hurt, or have been affected in any way by the tragic events at the Manchester Arena in 2017," he said.
"The response of so many of our staff, particularly first responders on the night, was exemplary, extraordinarily brave and quite humbling.
"However, I would like to acknowledge and apologise for failings by Greater Manchester Police, principally failing to carry out the basic functions of Jesip (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles) in the early stages of the incident which impacted considerably on joint working."
Viewers of the documentary were shocked to see the failings play out on screen, with one person writing: "What a catalogue of appalling mistakes at Manchester arena in 2017."
While another said: "I cannot comprehend how no individual questioned his clear effort, almost struggle to carry that backpack. He was hunched over and just plodding along? The country was told we were on 'high alert' too for another attack and still nothing."
And a third added: "So it took the parents to take notice of the bomber but not the trained police officers or stewards?!"
You can watch Worlds Collide: The Manchester Bombing Part 1 on ITV Hub now. The concluding part will air on ITV on Thursday at 9pm.