MANCHESTER, England (AP)—A British official says police in Manchester will stop sharing information about their bombing investigation with the U.S. until they get a guarantee that there will be no more leaks to the news media.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said there is progress being made on the investigation despite the leaks.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to raise the issue of the leaks with President Donald Trump in Brussels later Thursday.
British officials are particularly angry that photos detailing evidence about the bomb used in the Manchester attack were published in The New York Times, though it was not clear where those came from.
Manchester police would not comment on information-sharing, but Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said at a news conference thatit was “absolutely understandable” that this caused “much distress” to families of victims already suffering with their loss.
Raids yield arrests, important artifacts
The head of Manchester police says raids and searches across the city have uncovered items believed important to the investigation into the bombing at Manchester Arena.
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins added that the eight suspects detained so far were “significant” arrests, without elaborating. He said Thursday the searches will take several more days to complete.
Police have swooped in on multiple addresses in the city since Tuesday and those arrested include bomber Salman Abedi’s brother.
Suspicious package disposed of
British police say an incident attended by officers and army bomb disposal teams in Manchester is now over and the area has been deemed safe.
Greater Manchester Police said officers and soldiers went to a street in Hulme, southwest of central Manchester, on Thursday to deal with a possible suspicious package.
The move sparked a brief period of alarm, coming amid a fast-moving investigation into Monday night’s deadly bomb blast at Manchester Arena that killed 22. Police say the bomber belonged to a network and that investigations are taking place across Manchester.
Police said the cordon in the area has been removed.
Fallen officer honored
The family of an off-duty policewoman who died at the Manchester concert attack has paid tribute to her courage.
Elaine McIver, who served with Cheshire Police, was at the Ariana Grande concert with her partner, Paul, who was wounded in the deadly explosion.
In a statement Thursday, her family said she was “the best we could ever have wished for,” adding: “Despite what has happened to her, she would want us all to carry on regardless and not be frightened by fear tactics, instead she regularly urged us all to rise up against it.”
In total, 22 people—including teenagers and children—were killed in Monday night’s blast.
