First Minister condemns US intelligence leaks

The First Minister entered a major transatlantic row to condemn US leaks of evidence from the Manchester bombing.

Nicola Sturgeon said it is “completely unacceptable” that intelligence entrusted to US agencies had been handed to the media.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, she said: “I do share the anger and disbelief of the UK Government that we have seen very sensitive details from this ongoing live investigation leaked to the media in America.

“That is completely unacceptable and I think all of us should make clear that is unacceptable and cannot be defended.”

The New York Times published crime scene pictures, which showed bomb fragments and the backpack the device was hidden in. The paper defended its coverage saying it was “comprehensive and responsible”.

Politicians have been openly briefing US media on what they have been told about the suicide bomber.

According to the BBC, police hunting the terror network behind the atrocity, which left children among the 22 dead, stopped the flow of information about the investigation to the US yesterday following the leaks.

Ms Sturgeon said she supported the decision by UK ministers to suspend intelligencesharing “for hopefully a short period”.