The importance however of the Anderson Report, which evaluated the
operational case for the use (inter alia) of BCD, is that it was conducted by a
team of independent persons (described in paragraph 1.32 of the Report), with
considerable expertise in the use of secret intelligence, and with the necessary
security clearance to obtain access to secret documents, in order to analyse a
number of actual case studies, to judge the effect and utility of the bulk
powers. The reviewers were not only able to review documents, but also to
question intelligence officers to ascertain whether the case being made for the
use of those powers was justified.
12.
Included in the Anderson Report case studies were two which illustrated the
necessity for access to Bulk Data following terrorist attacks carried out by
persons who were not under surveillance, which has been the case in a number
of recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom. The findings of those two
case studies are set out below:
“Case study A9/10
This case study related to the London and Glasgow attacks in
2007. Using bulk acquisition data, MI5 was able to establish
within hours that the same perpetrators were responsible for
both attacks. MI5 was also able, within a similarly short
period, to learn more about the details of the attacks, including
the methods used and the identities of those involved or
associated with the attackers. The ability to conduct this
analysis at pace enabled MI5 to support the police in
responding swiftly to the attacks and to the threat of further,
imminent attacks.
It would not have been possible to achieve the same results
with comparable speed, using targeted queries. Speed was
essential at the time, when the SIAs and police had to learn as
quickly as possible whether other attacks were imminent. Bilal
Abdulla was subsequently convicted of conspiracy to murder
and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life.
Kafeel Ahmed died of the injuries that he sustained at Glasgow
Airport, having set himself alight.
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