US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says America ‘regrets’ the leaking of information from the Manchester bombing and takes ‘fully responsibility’ for it
The comments come after intelligence-sharing resumes between the UK and US following information leaks
US SECRETARY of State Rex Tillerson says the country “regrets” the leaking of information from the Manchester bombing and takes “fully responsibility” for it.
On his first official visit to London today, he signed letters of condolences and vowed that the Special Relationship would “withstand this particular unfortunate event”.
The comments come after intelligence-sharing resumes between the UK and US following damaging information leaks.
Today Mr Tillerson said the US “regrets” that the leaks took place – and praised the people of Manchester for their “unity and determination” after the bombing at a concert on Monday night which killed 22 people.
He said that is only “by coming together that we can beat this scourge”.
A bitter Trans-Atlantic row spiralled when senior British cops refused any more routine sharing of their investigation details with Washington DC in a bid to protect their leads – after the New York Times published pictures of the device and backpack used.
But the ban on information sharing has now been lifted, with Brit authorities saying they had received “fresh assurances” from international law enforcement organisations.
Today Mr Tillerson met with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for talks on a range of foreign policy issues – including Syria, Iran and North Korea.
The meeting comes as Theresa May and Donald Trump attempt to repair the relationship between the UK and the US over talks in Italy.
The pair met again today in Sicily for a G7 leaders summit – after the PM pushed him yesterday to take action on the leaks.
Mrs May appeared unimpressed in some photos with him yesterday as they met in Brussels – where she confronted him over repeated leaks of key information.
She pulled him aside as the pair waited for an official photo at the NATO summit in Brussels – and made it clear that “intelligence must remain secure” as police continued to make arrests in the probe into the deadly bombing.
Today the pair appear to be repairing damage to the Special Relationship as they hold talks in the picturesque Italian town of Taormina.
He also warned yesterday that the “horror” of the Manchester attacks will “continue forever” if world leaders failed to tackle the problems of terrorism.
