British Prime Minister Theresa May says progress is being made in the Manchester bombing investigation, even as a spat about leaks of sensitive material threatens to cast a shadow over her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Brussels.
May said on Thursday that eight people are in custody — following the arrests of two more people earlier in the day — as the investigation continues into the deadly attack at an arena where American singer Ariana Grande had just finished her performance.
But the public “should remain vigilant,” May said during a brief televised address after a meeting of the government’s COBRA crisis committee.
May said the national threat level remains critical — meaning another attack may be imminent.
The threat level was raised to its highest level after suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people at the concert Monday night at Manchester Arena. Police say he was part of a network and they are racing to track down his links.
May left for Brussels amid bitter complaints from British police and other security forces about leaks of sensitive material related to the investigation by U.S. officials.
Officials are particularly angry that photos detailing evidence about the bomb were published in the New York Times. The photos include the remains of a 12-volt battery — thought to be the bomb’s power source, according to the article — and a bloodied cylinder that was reportedly found in the bomber’s left hand. The item might be the bomb’s trigger, or nothing more than the remains of an e-cigarette, according to one explosives expert who spoke to the Times.
Manchester police Chief Ian Hopkins said the story and photographs were “distressing” to victims’ families.
A British official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police in Manchester will stop sharing information about the investigation with the U.S. until they get a guarantee that there will be no more leaks to the media.
This item, seen in a photo published by the New York Times, was reportedly found in the bomber’s hand and could be the remains of the trigger that set off the explosion. (New York Times)
U.S. officials also leaked Abedi’s name to the media earlier this week, before it had been released in the U.K. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd complained that such leaks could cost police “the element of surprise” in their bid to prevent future attacks.
Britain and the U.S. have traditionally shared intelligence at the highest levels and — together with Canada, Australia and New Zealand — are members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance.
Trump said his administration will “get to the bottom” of the leaks and pursue possible prosecution.
“There is no relationship we cherish more than the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom,” he said in a statement.
The U.S. president has for months been troubled by leaks — often relating to the investigation of Russia’s alleged meddling in the election that brought him to power — though he personally came under fire when it emerged he had revealed highly classified information, that had been shared by Israel, to Russian officials during a recent meeting at the White House.
Asked whether he had any concerns about intelligence sharing within NATO, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will continue to “collaborate” as usual with its allies.
The New York Times defended publishing the material, saying in a statement that “the images and information presented were neither graphic nor disrespectful of victims.”
It said its coverage of the attack “has been both comprehensive and responsible.”
Police are rushing to uncover the network thought to have helped Abedi in the attack.
Greater Manchester Police say two men were arrested overnight in Manchester and in the Withington area in the south of the city.
Eight men have now been detained in connection with the attack. A woman was arrested late Wednesday but was later released without charge.
Officers also raided a property in the Moss Side area of the city early Thursday and carried out a controlled explosion.
British officials are upset that bomber Salman Abedi’s name was leaked by U.S. officials and published while U.K. police were withholding the name for reasons of operational security. (Associated Press)
