British stop sharing bombing case details with U. S.

British authorities stopped sharing information about the investigation into the deadly concert bombing with American security officials over the leak of confidential and sensitive details about the case, media here reported Thursday.

Police said eight men remain in custody after Monday’s attack.

The reported decision to halt sharing information with counterparts in the United States comes after a series of revelations about the case that first surfaced in U. S. media including USA TODAY, such as the name of the suspected suicide bomber Salman Abedi.

Late Wednesday, images showing what appeared to be debris from the device used to kill 22 people at Manchester Arena following a performance by U. S. pop star Ariana Grande were published in The New York Times, a move that prompted a rebuke from Britain’s National Counter Terrorism Policing unit.

“We greatly value the impor- tant 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,” it said in a statement.

“When that trust is breached it undermines these relationships, and undermines our investigations and the confidence of victims, witnesses and their families. This damage is even greater when it involves unauthorized disclosure of potential evidence in the middle of a major counter terrorism investigation.”

The BBC first reported that a decision was made to temporarily freeze disclosing details about the case with U. S. authorities. It said that there was “disbelief and astonishment across the British government” about the leaks to U. S. media, which they feel could compromise the investigation.

Prime Minister Theresa May was expected to raise the issue with President Trump at a NATO meeting in Brussels later Thursday.

AFP/ GETTY IMAGES This photo obtained by The New York Times shows what the Manchester bomber appeared to have used to detonate a powerful explosive concealed within a backpack.