Manchester attack: Home Secretary Amber Rudd criticises United States over leaking of British intelligence

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has warned the United States over leaking after details of the Manchester attack appeared to come from American sources.

Ms Rudd said the leaking of information had been “irritating” after a number of details appeared in the US media, including NBC and CBS, before the police had released information.

The death toll, the attack being an apparent suicide bombing, and the name of the attacker were all released from American news outlets.

Ms Rudd told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that US leaks may be working against the police.

She said: “British police have been very clear that they want to control the flow of information in order to protect operational integrity, the element of surprise.

“So it is irritating if it gets released from other sources and I have been very clear with our friends that that should not happen again."

Asked if the Americans had compromised the investigation, she added: "I wouldn't go that far but I can say that they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn't happen again."

The Home Secretary has also confirmed that Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi was known to the intelligence services "up to a point".

The Government raised the terrorism threat level to "critical" - the highest possible rating - on Tuesday amid fears another attack is imminent.

Asked if she knew whether Islamic State directed the attack, she said: "We don't have that information yet no."

Ms Rudd said the investigation was "ongoing" when asked if another attack was planned.

She said: "It was a devastating occasion, it was ... more sophisticated than some of the attacks we've seen before and it seems likely, possible that he wasn't doing this on his own.

“So the intelligence services and the police are pursuing their leads in order to make sure that they get all the information and reduce therefore the risk that they need to keep us all safe."

She added: "Well the security services will know a lot of people, it doesn't mean that they are expected to arrest everybody they know, but it is somebody who they had known before and I am sure when this investigation concludes, we'll be able to find out more."