US takes responsibility for leaking information on UK terrorism investigation

Information about the investigation to arrest those involved in the Manchester terrorist attack has been leaked. The US President strongly condemns this action.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on May 26 that the US government “takes full responsibility” for the leak of information related to the investigation into the terrorist attack on May 22 in Manchester that killed at least 22 people.

Speaking after a meeting with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, in London, the US Secretary of State pledged to act soon.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during a meeting in London (Photo: EPA)

“It is true that information about the investigation, information necessary to arrest those involved in the terrorist attack, was leaked by someone,” said Rex Tillerson. “US President Donald Trump strongly condemns this action and has ordered a thorough investigation to find out who leaked the information. We regret what happened and take responsibility for it. We hope that the special relationship between the UK and the US will not be affected by this unfortunate event.”

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he hoped the US would investigate the incident and affirmed that the two countries would continue to share information in the spirit of ensuring maximum confidentiality.

Earlier, the US Secretary of State unexpectedly went to London to meet his British counterpart right after British officials expressed their anger at the US media for leaking information about the investigation into the terrorist attack in Manchester.

British police later announced a temporary suspension of intelligence sharing between the two countries.

To calm the situation, the US President at the NATO meeting in Brussels (Belgium) pledged to thoroughly investigate this information leak.

On May 25, the first series of information about the suicide bomber Salman Abedi was published in the American media. In particular, the New York Times also published a series of photos of the scene outside the Manchester stadium.

British officials believe that the US media releasing related evidence could undermine the country's investigation efforts./.

According to VOV