Theresa May hits back at Donald Trump after Parsons Green terror tweet

Theresa May has publicly rebuked Donald Trump in a fresh row between the UK and US over intelligence-sharing.

Theresa May stepped in after the US president sparked a fresh row over intelligence-sharing with the UK after claiming the Parsons Green Tube bombers had been ‘in the sights’ of Scotland Yard.

The US President took to Twitter to call for a ‘proactive’ response to dealing with the terrorist threat.

He then appeared to criticise Scotland Yard when he took to Twitter early this morning after the explosion on the London Underground, implying police knew who was responsible for making the crude device.

But his remarks have been rejected by Mrs May.

She told a press conference: ‘I never think it’s helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation.’

The extent of Trump’s knowledge of the attack became muddled during an impromptu press conference on the lawn of the White House.

When asked for his response to the incident in London, he replied: “This keeps going and going. We have to be very smart and we have to be very, very tough. And perhaps we’re not nearly tough enough. That’s a terrible thing and I’m going to call the Prime Minister right now.

When asked if he had been briefed on intelligence about the attack, Mr Trump replied: “Yes, I have. On numerous things happening. Including North Korea

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Trump’s outburst came during a series of tweets in the hours after the attack, which injured at least 22 people when a home-made device exploded on a train.

‘Another attack in London by a loser terrorist,’ wrote Trump on social media.

‘These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!

Scotland Yard refused to be drawn on the remarks.

A spokeswoman said: ‘It is not something we would comment on.’

It is the second row between the two allies in the last few weeks over intelligence-sharing.

The latest incident comes after British police temporarily suspended intelligence-sharing with the US in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in May following a series of leaks to American media.

CBS disclosed the name of the bomber, Salman Abedi, citing US sources, at a time when the British authorities were asking media to withhold the information to protect the investigation.

The New York Times then published detailed photographs taken from the bomb scene which had been taken by British investigators.

Trump also linked Friday’s attack at Parsons Green station attack to his controversial travel ban.

The ‘special relationship’ also came under strain earlier in the year, when the then White House press secretary Sean Spicer repeated claims that GCHQ, the UK surveillance agency, had been involved in bugging the Trump campaign on behalf of Barack Obama.

His comments drew a rare public statement from GCHQ denouncing the allegation as ‘utterly ridiculous’.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who clashed with Mr Trump over his response to the London Bridge terror attack, would not be drawn on the president’s latest comments.

‘I’ve simply been too busy this morning to look at my Twitter,” he told LBC Radio.

‘My priority is making sure that we do what we can to keep Londoners safe.’