Government officials in the UK are fuming over US leaks about the Manchester bombing

A group of UK police chiefs blasted intelligence officials in the US on Wednesday for leaking photographs of evidence relating to the suicide bombing in Manchester earlier this week.

In decrying the leaks, the National Police Chiefs’ Council joined other UK government officials who have expressed frustration with their American security allies since the attack, which killed 22 people and injured more than 50 others Monday.

On Wednesday, The New York Times published pictures of remnants of the attacker’s homemade bomb, including a shredded backpack, a 12-volt battery, and nuts and screws used as shrapnel.

In a statement, a spokesperson representing the British police group’s counterterrorism committee said the leaks “undermine our investigations and the confidence of victims.”

“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 spokesperson said.

“When that trust is breached it undermines these relationships, and undermines our investigations and the confidence of victims, witnesses and their families.”

 

 

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