UK official: US leaks on Manchester investigation ‘irritating’

Leaks related to the investigation of the Manchester bombing that are coming from the United States are “irritating,” United Kingdom Home Secretary Amber Rudd said Wednesday.

The comments come after some details regarding the deadly attack at an Ariana Grande concert Monday in the northwestern English city surfaced before being released by British officials. The details were sourced to U.S. law enforcement sources.

“The 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,” Rudd told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program, CNN reported.

{mosads}”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 leaks had compromised the investigation, Rudd said she wouldn’t “go that far.”

“I can say that they are perfectly clear about the situation and that it shouldn’t happen again,” she said.

Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more were wounded on Monday night when a bomb went off just outside the concert venue in Manchester as fans were exiting.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria claimed responsibility for the attack.

On Tuesday, the U.K. raised its threat level to “critical” and British Prime Minister Theresa May warned a “further attack may be imminent.”