Manchester attack: Whitehall ‘fury’ at US leak of evidence photos

Theresa May to urge US president Donald Trump to keep intelligence and security information secure


PA

By Richard Johnstone

25 May 2017

Photo credit: Fotolia

The government has expressed anger at the leak of photos from the investigation into the Manchester terror attack by the US media, with both politicians and police calling it unacceptable.

Photos from the crime scene were revealed by the New York Times late yesterday, purporting to show evidence that was gathered at the scene of the attack, including bloodstained fragments from the bomb and the backpack used to conceal it.

RELATED CONTENT

Jeremy Heywood praises “dedication” of civil servants after Manchester attacks
Top terror trial QC Max Hill appointed as Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation
Home Office names Thomas Hurd as new Office of Security and Counter Terrorism director

This came after home secretary Amber Rudd criticised previous leaks, including the attacker’s identity, and said she had told Washington such leaks "should not happen again".

A Whitehall security source told the BBC after the latest leaks that the government was “furious”.

“This is completely unacceptable,” they said.

Following the leak, it has been reported that Greater Manchester Police, which is leading the investigation into the bomb attack, had stopped sharing information with the US.

In an unusual statement, the National Police Chiefs' Council released a statement from a national counter-terrorism policing spokesman that called the release a breach of trust.

“We greatly value the important relationships we have with our trusted intelligence, law-enforcement and security partners around the world. These relationships enable us to collaborate and share privileged and sensitive information that allows us to defeat terrorism and protect the public at home and abroad,” the spokesman said.

“When that trust is breached it undermines these relationships, and undermines our investigations and the confidence of victims, witnesses and their families. This damage is even greater when it involves unauthorised disclosure of potential evidence in the middle of a major counter terrorism investigation.”

The BBC has reported that the leaks are coming from American law enforcement, rather than the White House.

However, prime minister Theresa May is expected to tell US president Donald Trump that shared intelligence "must remain secure" at a meeting of the NATO military alliance, which begins in Brussels today.

Read the most recent articles written by Richard Johnstone - Building the future: Steven Boyd on making government property work for the civil service

Share this page