People console each other while leaving tributes to the Manchester victims (Picture: Getty Images)

Leaks of evidence to the US media have caused great ‘distress’ to the families of the Manchester bombing victims.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said that images leaked from the counter-terror investigation and published in the New York Times had upset those grieving for their loved ones.

Theresa May to confront Trump over ‘arrogant’ leaking of Manchester evidence

‘Alongside the investigation, we have a team of specially-trained officers who have been supporting the families of those who tragically lost their lives,’ Constable Hopkins said.

‘Last night the family liaison officers shared with them the fact that intelligence had been leaked and published in the New York Times.


‘It is absolutely understandable that this has caused much distress for families that are already suffering terribly with their loss.



‘A statement was issued by the National Counter Terrorism Police Network last night. I do not wish to add anything further to this, and I will not be commenting on information-sharing arrangements with our international partners.’

Theresa May is briefed by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

The NCTPN had warned that such leaks ‘undermine our investigations and the confidence of victims, witnesses and their families’.

‘This damage is even greater when it involves unauthorised disclosure of potential evidence in the middle of a major counter-terrorism investigation,’ their statement added.

Photographs published in the New York Times and on their website showed fragments of the bomb, and of the rucksack it was allegedly concealed in.

The fragments had been photographed while still on the blood-stained floor of the arena.

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In addition to the images, the NYT published a map of the arena’s foyer which showed where the bomb was detonated, where the victims were found, and where the bomber’s torso was lying in relation to them.

The NYT described them vaguely as ‘law enforcement images’ in the article, but did not otherwise say how they had been obtained.

Shortly after the leak, Whitehall released an uncharacteristically strong statement saying it was ‘furious’ with how intelligence had been handled by US officials.

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‘We are furious,’ a Whitehall source said on Wednesday night. ‘This is completely unacceptable.

The US leaks on the Manchester bombing that angered the British Government

‘These images leaked from inside the US system will be distressing for victims, their families, and the wider public.

‘The issue is being raised at every relevant level by the British authorities with their US counterparts.’

It then was announced on Thursday morning that British police had stopped sharing intelligence with their US counterparts.

Theresa May is also set to confront Donald Trump over the leaks when the two leaders meet at the Nato summit in Brussels.