Case study A9/25
MI5
Action
Counter-terrorism
Summarised in the Operational Case
In this 2013 case, bulk acquisition data was used to foil an attack by Irish dissident
republicans. It was suspected that members of the group had already obtained
explosives and that their activities were increasing (a common sign of an attack being
imminent). However, MI5 did not know the date of any proposed attack and the group’s
security awareness made it difficult to obtain further information.
The use of bulk acquisition data identified telephones being used by the group, and
further enabled MI5 to identify previously unknown members of the group. MI5 was able
to increase its coverage of this expanded group. As a result it became aware of a
sudden further increase in activity from analysis of the group’s communications activity
and MI5 judged that an attack was imminent. Police intervened and recovered an
improvised explosive device. A prosecution followed.
The Review team was given details which indicated that, without bulk acquisition data,
the telephones would not have been identified.
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