Manchester terror attack
Trump condemns probe leaks as manhunt continues in UK
Agencies
US President Donald Trump has said leaks of the investigation into the Manchester attack to the US media are deeply troubling, report agencies. They were a grave threat to our national security, he added, and his administration would get to the bottom of it. His remarks come after US media published photos from the scene of Monday nights attack. Salman Abedi blew himself up, killing 22 adults and children.
Mr Trump, who was at the Nato summit in Brussels with UK Prime Minister Theresa May, said: These leaks have been going on for a long time.
I am asking the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies to launch a complete review of this matter, and if appropriate, the culprit should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
There is no relationship we cherish more than the special relationship between the US and the UK.
Britain Thursday closed in on a jihadist network thought to be behind the Manchester concert attack, as grief mixed with anger at the US over leaked material from the probe, reports AFP from Manchester.
The shellshocked country came to a halt for a poignant minutes silence at 11:00 am local time (1000 GMT) to remember the 22 dead, innocent victims of the latest Islamic State-claimed atrocity to hit Europe. And as more children were named among the victims of Mondays massacre, Libyan authorities detained the suicide bombers father as well as his brother while police in Britain carried out fresh arrests and raids.
Mourner Carmel McLaughlan, 69, came to St Anns Square in Manchester for the minutes silence. Speaking to AFP as she stood next to a sea of flowers, she said: I just feel as though its a bereavement for all of us. Its like your own family just passed away, its just so, so sad, theres just sadness hanging over Manchester at the moment. Its terrible, its hard to believe it. Emotions were still raw in the northwestern city, three days after Salman Abedis attack on a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande -- especially so as the bomber was born in the city. As the nation mourned, Queen Elizabeth II visited children injured in the attack at a hospital in Manchester. Its dreadful. Very wicked to target that sort
of thing, she told Evie Mills, 14, and her parents. But Manchester United fans stood together in defiant mood as their teams triumph in European footballs Europa League final brought some much-needed smiles to a city still in pain. The club dedicated their trophy to those killed, while manager Jose Mourinho said they would gladly exchange it if it could bring their lives back.
And United came together with bitter local rivals Manchester City to donate 1 million to an emergency fund set up in the wake of the attack. Amid the grief, British authorities were left furious by repeated leaks of material shared with their US counterparts.
Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to confront US President Donald Trump over the issue at the NATO summit in Brussels later Thursday.
In a televised statement, she said she would make clear to President (Donald) Trump that intelligence which is shared between our law enforcement agencies must remain secure.
Images obtained by The New York Times newspaper showed a detonator Abedi was said to have carried in his left hand, shrapnel including nuts and screws and the shredded remains of a blue backpack. We are furious. This is completely unacceptable, a government ministry source said of the images leaked from inside the US system.
Manchester police chief Ian Hopkins said the leaks had caused much distress for families that are already suffering terribly with their loss. The leak, which followed a similar disclosure of the bombers identity and probe details, has rocked the intelligence-sharing relationship between close allies London and Washington. The National Counter Terrorism Policing body said the breach of trust caused great damage and undermines our investigations. University dropout Abedi, 22, grew up in a Libyan family that reportedly fled to Manchester to escape the now-fallen regime of Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
