‘Leakers’ should be prosecuted: Trump

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said he wants those who leaked intelligence about the Manchester bomber to the US media to be prosecuted, after Theresa May warned the leaks could undermine the “special relationship”.

The Prime Minister, with the police and intelligence agencies, is furious that sensitive material about the investigation has repeatedly been leaked in the US, which ministers say risks compromising the fast-moving inquiry.

She made her feelings clear to Mr Trump as they prepared to pose for a picture with other leaders at a Nato summit in Brussels.

Mr Trump agreed that the leaks “pose a grave threat to our national security” and added that, if appropriate, “the culprit should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.

After arriving in Belgium, Mrs May said: “I will be making clear to President Trump today that intelligence that is shared between law enforcement agencies must be shared securely.”

Mr Trump described the leaks as “deeply troubling” and said he was asking the Justice Department to lead an investigation into the matter.

It later emerged that Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, will today make his first visit to London as “an expression of solidarity” after the bombing. He will hold talks with Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, and they are expected to discuss the issue of the intelligence leaks.

Asst Commissioner Mark Rowley,

‘These leaks have been going on for a long time and my administration will get to the bottom of this’

national counter-terrorism policing lead, said the UK “greatly valued” its intelligence relationship with “trusted partners”, adding: “We want to emphasise that, having received fresh assurances, we are now working closely with our key partners around the world including all those in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance.”

The “Five Eyes” nations that share intelligence are the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.