On May 22, 2017, the attack by an Islamist suicide in Manchester, England, cost the lives of 23 people attending an Ariane Grande concert – more than 800 were injured.

Manchester security guard makes testimony in public inquiry

Kyle Lawler was 18 years old and was working for a security company when Salman Abedi, well-known to police, detonated a rucksack filled with metal parts during a concert by US singer Ariana Grande. The Islamic State later confessed to the bloody act, the youngest victim of which was just 8 years old .

All of these people were killed in the attack in Manchester.

A public investigation has now revealed that Lawler is said to have had a “bad feeling” at the sight of the later assassin who was dressed entirely in black .

Abedi, who is described as “fidgety and sweaty”, is said to have been about 3 to 4 meters away from the security guard before he blew himself up five minutes later.

“I had a bad feeling about him, but nothing to justify,” explained Kyle Lawler. He still tried to reach colleagues with a radio, but could not counter the high level of radio traffic during the night.

Shocking admission by the security guard: “I was afraid of being labeled a racist”

Finally, Kyle Lawler just gave up relaying the message on his radio and went on with his job as if nothing had happened. He justified his approach as follows:

“I wasn’t sure what to do. It’s very difficult to spot a terrorist. As far as I know, he could have been an innocent Asian man.”

Surveillance recording of the assassin.

Lawler further stated in the public inquiry: “I didn’t want people to think I was judging him because of his origins and looks. I was afraid of being wrong, of being labeled a racist and getting into trouble for doing so. So I hesitated. I wanted to do it right and not overreact and judge someone because of the color of their skin. “