British officials warn American government to stop leaking details of Manchester terror probe
BRITAIN has lodged a complaint with the US government over repeated leaks from the investigation into the Manchester terror attack.
American officials briefed US media on sensitive details about Monday night's suicide bombing, including the name of the attacker.
Today the Home Secretary admitted the leaks were "irritating" - but said the American government has promised it will not happen again.
However, just hours later the US media reported yet more leaked information in an embarrassing blow for the British authorities.
As police worked to discover exactly how 22 people were killed at the Manchester Arena, they were tight-lipped on most details.
British officials said that making all their findings public could compromise the ongoing investigation.
But they were undermined by their counterparts in the US - who promptly handed over many of the police's findings to American media outlets.
Among the leaked details were the fact that the killer used a nail bomb, and his identification as 22-year-old Salman Abedi.
Amber Rudd angrily insisted this morning that the Americans would not repeat the leaks as she revealed she had spoken to US officials.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if the leaking had annoyed the police, she replied: "Yes, quite frankly.
"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, so it is irritating if it gets released from other sources.
"I have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again."
The Home Secretary refused to deny that the leaks had compromised the police probe, saying: "I wouldn't go that far but I can say that they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn't happen again."
But despite the warning, the leaks continued today as NBC News claimed to have been briefed by a US intelligence official.
The source apparently told journalists that that Abedi's family had previously reported him to the authorities for his "dangerous" extremist views.
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Since Donald Trump came to power, the US government has become increasingly notorious for leaking sensitive facts.
Officials have repeatedly given classified information to the media, including the results of secret FBI probes.
America is not the only British ally to have leaked updates on the investigation into Abedi's atrocity.
The French interior minister said this morning that the suicide bomber had previously travelled to Syria and was linked to ISIS.
Gerard Collomb told local TV that his information had come from both British intelligence services.
