MI5 says Saudi king's 7/7 claim is 'a myth'

By Robert Winnett and James Kirkup
Daily Telegraph

The intelligence services have become embroiled in a rare public row with the Saudi government by describing comments about the 7/7 London bombings made by the Saudi king as a "myth".

King Abdullah, currently on a state visit to Britain, said in an interview that his country had "sent information before the terrorist attacks" which was not acted upon and which "may have been able to avert the tragedy".

However, MI5 has hit back with a rare public statement on the agency's website stating: "No prior warning of the attacks was received from any source. The Saudis provided information about possible planning for an attack in the UK which was materially different from the attacks that took place in London on 7 July."

A Whitehall official added that the tip from the Saudis was "vague and lacking detail".

The row is the latest controversy to hit the first state visit by a Saudi Royal to Britain in twenty years. David Miliband, the foreign secretary, cancelled a joint conference arrangement with the Saudi foreign minister following the King's comments.

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