Tillerson: US takes ‘ full responsibility’ for Manchester intelligence leaks

LONDON: The US government takes full responsibility for leaks of the British police investigation into Monday’s deadly bomb attack in Manchester which killed 22 people, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday.

Appearing alongside British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in London, Tillerson said that “all across America, hearts are broken” at news of the attack on people attending a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande.

British police briefly suspended intelligence sharing with the US on Thursday after private details of their investigation repeatedly appeared in American media.

“With respect to the release of information inappropriately certainly we condemn that.”

Tillerson said: “In terms of fixing the relationship between the United States and Great Britain, this special relationship that exists between our two countries will certainly withstand this particular unfortunate event.”

US President Donald Trump has described the intelligence leaks as “deeply troubling” and threatened to prosecute those responsible.

Tillerson paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. He said that “the thirst for justice burns very hot” and promised to drive terrorists and extremists “out of our communities” and off the face of the earth. ...

For the first time since the attack, politicians resumed campaigning on a national scale for the June 8 vote as an opinion poll found the Conservatives’ lead, once as much as 23 percentage points, had shrunk to just five.

Conservatives saw their support fall to 43 percent while backing for Labour rose to 38 percent in the YouGov poll.

The issue of security, which was not widely discussed in the election campaign before the attack, is now expected to feature highly.

Armed police backed up by the army are patrolling cities and trains, and hospitals have been warned to be ready.