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Police chief launches scathing attack on BBC over 'inaccurate' Manchester Arena terror documentary

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins accused the corporation of jeopardising the criminal investigation - PA
Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins accused the corporation of jeopardising the criminal investigation - PA

The head of Greater Manchester Police has accused the BBC of jeopardising the ongoing investigation into the Manchester Arena Attack by screening an “inaccurate” and “misleading” programme on the anniversary of the bombing. 

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the broadcaster had also upset the families of the victims by screening “explicit” footage of the aftermath of the bombing which left 22 people dead and hundreds more injured.

In a strongly worded open letter, Mr Hopkins said the decision to screen Manchester: The Night Of The Bomb risked undermining the ongoing police investigation into the attack and said the Corporation had ignored concern expressed by the Crown Prosecution Service and the coroner.

He said the documentary had wrongly inferred that officers were held back from the arena on the night of bombing, describing the claim as an "unwarranted attack" on the bravery of his officers.

"At no point were GMP officers and staff held back and they were immediately deployed to the Arena to save life and protect people,” he explained.

Prosecutors have applied to the Libyan authorities to extradite the younger brother of suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, and Mr Hopkins suggested the documentary could have an impact on the legal process.

He wrote: “We asked repeatedly to view the footage so that we could work with the CPS, Coroner and our own family liaison officers to assess what legal implications it may have, but most importantly so that we could inform  and support families. We were not permitted to do this at any point before broadcast.”

He explained that it was for these legal reasons that GMP had declined to take part in the documentary.

Thousands gathered in Manchester yesterday to remember those who died a year ago - Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe
Thousands gathered in Manchester yesterday to remember those who died a year ago Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe

Mr Hopkins was also scathing about the BBC’s decision show footage from the night of the attack.

In the letter he said: "I fail to see any public interest in footage of such an explicit nature being aired with disregard to the feelings of those who matter most.

Some families are left with the question - is this my loved one on the floor?

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins

"Whether families wish to view such footage is a private matter and is not something that should be publicly aired on national television taking away any choice. Some families are left with the question - is this my loved one on the floor?”

But a spokesman for the BBC insisted the documentary makers had acted sensitively and had taken advice from Victim Support when planning the programme.

The spokesman said: "This was a responsible, accurate and thoughtful documentary which was an important piece of public service broadcasting.

"The programme team took considerable care to minimise offence whilst accurately portraying the severity of events.”