Secret details that Americans let slip
BRITISH spies and police were forced to suspend sharing intelligence with the US about the Manchester attack.
The unprecedented decision to interrupt the UK’s closest intelligence arrangement with any country came after a series of highly sensitive leaks from America’s law enforcement agencies to US media.
Aside from damaging the trust between the two countries, UK security agencies believe the leaks undermined their work and harmed their investigations. Here is the list of leaks from the attack:
As the attack unfolded, US ‘law enforce- ment sources’ briefed TV network CBS that a suicide bomber carried out the attack. Two sources told them about how the bomber travelled by train to Victoria station and how the explosions contained nails. Another broadcaster, NBC, was also given details about the attack method.
Bomber Salman Abedi’s name was provided to US media. UK police did not release it initially because they wanted to get ahead in the investigation. But it was reported on American breakfast television at least six hours before British authorities released it.
The fact the bomber was identified by a bank card in his pocket was leaked to NBC. Citing a US intelligence official, it reported members of the bomber’s family had warned security officials about him in the past, saying he was ‘dangerous’. The official said Abedi likely ‘had help’ making the ‘big and sophisticated bomb’.
According to the broadcaster, a US intelligence official, said to have ‘direct knowledge of the investigation’, revealed how Abedi had ties to Al Qaeda and had received terrorist training abroad.
Photographs taken from the crime scene were leaked to the New York Times. The images showed blood-smeared fragments from the bomb, the backpack used to conceal it and a diagram showing where the bodies were.
Authorities revealed to ABC News how detectives apparently found a bomb-making workshop in Abedi’s home.
Details included how he apparently stockpiled enough chemicals to make more bombs.