This newly released information puts pressure on the British intelligence community to provide answers as to why they didn’t feel Abedi was a significant threat, and if the attack could have been prevented.
The source told The Mail
on Sunday: ‘In early 2017 the FBI told MI5 that Abedi belonged to a
North African terror gang based in Manchester, which was looking for a
political target in this country.'
The information came from the interception
of his communications by US federal agents, who had been investigating
Abedi since the middle of 2016, and from information unearthed in Libya,
where his family was linked to terrorist groups.
‘Following this US tip-off, Abedi and
other members of the gang were scrutinised by MI5. It was thought at the
time that Abedi was planning to assassinate a political figure.
‘But nothing came of this investigation and, tragically, he slipped down the pecking order of targets.’
Last night, The Mail on Sunday put the
claim to the FBI but a bureau spokesman declined to comment, while UK
security sources did not confirm the specific claim about the tip-off.
Editor: A report by Daily Mail columnist, Peter Oborne, says: "Often with the connivance of MI6, during the early years of the Syrian war, hundreds of British citizens were allowed to travel abroad to join Jihadist organizations." Read More:
Editor: A report by Daily Mail columnist, Peter Oborne, says: "Often with the connivance of MI6, during the early years of the Syrian war, hundreds of British citizens were allowed to travel abroad to join Jihadist organizations." Read More:
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