Britain’s Home Secretary has criticised the United States (US) after confidential details about the Manchester Arena attack appear to have been leaked to the media by American intelligence officers.
Amber Rudd told BBC Radio that it was “irritating” that details about the concert bombing had been leaked to the US before being released in Britain.
“The British police have been very clear that they want to control the flow of information in order to protect operational integrity… the element of surprise,” Rudd was quoted as saying.
“So it is irritating if it gets released from other sources and I have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again,” she added.
When asked whether the leaks had “compromised” the investigation, she said she “wouldn't go that far” but added: “I can say that they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn't happen again.”
It is not clear which branch of government the leaks emerged from. The US administration, however, has come under fire in recent weeks over leaks.
At least 22 people were killed on Monday night when a bomb went off at a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, northwest England, among them children.
British-born Salman Abedi was identified as the suspected suicide bomber responsible. His name first surfaced in US media reports yesterday, based on briefings given to US officials by their counterparts in London.
