28 May, 2017
The name of the bomber, Salman Abedi, was disclosed to US media just as raids were underway both in Manchester and in Libya, where the bomber's father lives. A reported 23 people remain in critical condition. Though it's unclear if the newspaper obtained the information from USA officials, the story has angered many British officials and distressed the families of the victims.
Floral tributes and messages of support left around the statue at St Ann's Square in Manchester.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said Thursday that it was "absolutely understandable" that the leaks to US media had caused the victims' families distress, but he would not comment on reports by British outlets suggesting intelligence sharing between the two allies would be reduced to some extent as a result. In a statement Friday, she said "I'll be returning to the incredibly fearless city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise money for the victims and their families".
Greater Manchester Police temporarily severed information sharing ties with their American counterparts after the pictures were shared.
In total, eight men, including Abedi's older brother, and a woman have been arrested in a series of raids across Manchester, Wigan and Nuneaton.
"I want to reassure people that the arrests that we have made are significant, and initial searches of premises have revealed items that we believe are very important to the investigation", he told reporters.
The government and police had no comment on the BBC report. This undoubtedly raised questions for other allies about whether the USA can be trusted to keep things secret. "It is unacceptable", the source said. "The leaks of sensitive information pose a grave threat to our national security", Trump said. The statement further said, "I am asking the Department of Justice and other agencies to conduct an inquiry into this matter, and if appropriate, the person involved in the leak must be punished".
"Our response to this violence must be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before", she said. The Five Eyes intelligence sharing group includes Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Troops have been deployed to free up police officers for patrols and investigations.
He added, "The cooperation between the USA and the United Kingdom on intelligence matters is crucial for security around the world, so we can't... this can't see both sides pulling away, but that is why the Prime Minister, the government, are right to make this an issue at the summit today, and it's why I have taken a step of speaking out too, and making my concerns known". Mr Trump, in Brussels, ignored two questions from journalists on whether Britain can trust the United States with sensitive information.
"What we had to clarify with our friends in the U.S., we did".
As of Thursday, the identity of the officials who leaked the information remains unknown but at a press conference, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would continue to share intelligence despite the leaks.
A delay of about 36 hours, before the public know who police are investigating, can allow known associates of the suspect to be arrested before they know police are looking for them.
