The threat level was raised to “critical” in May 2017 after the Manchester Arena bombing
SUCCESSFUL joint working between emergency services was made "impossible" by communication problems following the Manchester Arena blast, an inquiry has heard.
British Transport Police (BTP) control room staff had no direct line with their counterparts at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), as well as local ambulance and fire services, and had to call 999 and wait in the queue with the public, the inquiry heard.
Inspector Ben Dawson, force incident manager on the night for BTP, could not speak with GMP's force duty officer who the inquiry has heard was "overwhelmed" with the volume of tasks he faced.