United Kingdom said to halt USA intel sharing on Manchester probe after leaks

Military presence stepped up as Britain faces raised threat
Britons hold vigils for Manchester victims as UK raises terror threat level
Author

26 May, 2017

The BBC reported that British police had stopped sharing information about the Manchester bombing with the United States, due to anger over the detailed disclosures.

"We are working closely and intensively with our British partners to probe possible terrorist networks and we have achieved important progress", deputy interior minister Abdelsalam Ashour told reporters.

However, fundamentalist sources in Manchester told Asharq Al-Awsat that Abedi traveled to Libya for three weeks and returned to the United Kingdom days before carrying out the suicide bombing - the sources added that his father most probably resides in Libya.

May said the national threat level from terrorism remains at critical - the highest level, meaning that another attack may be imminent.

As police raced to uncover the network that may have helped Abedi attack an Ariana Grande concert Monday night, British officials blamed US authorities Thursday for leaking details of the investigation to the media.

A British intelligence official says the United Kingdom is now sharing intelligence with the USA, after reports that British officials stopped sharing intelligence with the US over concerns about leaks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she raise the issue with President Trump at a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting in Brussels later Thursday.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said Thursday that crime scene photos leaked to The New York Times had caused "understandable distress" to victims' families. British Home Secretary Amber Rudd on Wednesday said the leaks could damage the investigation into the bombing that killed 22 people.

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Police announced the arrest of the first suspect, a 23-year-old man rumored to be the older brother of the attacker, on Tuesday.

Salman Abedi recently traveled to Libya and authorities have been trying to determine if he also visited war-torn Syria. Upon her arrival in Brussels, May said the U.S. "Whether he got that is between him and God".

Shortly after, Queen Elizabeth arrived at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to visit some of the 64 people who were injured. She toured the wards and spoke to medical staff.

"Her Majesty meets Evie Mills, aged 14, from Harrogate, her mum, Karen and dad, Craig at the hospital in Manchester", the Royal Family tweeted with a photo.

Many of Monday's victims, who included an 8-year-old girl, have yet to be named, with desperate relatives still appealing for help in finding those missing.

Police on Thursday continued to raid locations across the city, convinced the bombmaker could still be on the loose.

Security officials say they have thwarted 18 plots since 2013, including five since the Westminster attack in March.

Multiple bomb scares occurred across Manchester on Thursday, including in the suburb of Trafford where the army was called to an area near a college.

A minute's silence was observed in honor of the victims at a square in central Manchester and other places across Britain.

Onyanga-Omara reported from London, Bacon from McLean, Va.


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