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Manchester attack: British Home Secretary slams U.S. for leaking info about Salman Abedi

Click to play video: 'Salman Abedi identified as suspect in suicide bombing at Ariana Grande concert'
Salman Abedi identified as suspect in suicide bombing at Ariana Grande concert
WATCH: Salman Abedi identified as suspect in suicide bombing at Ariana Grande concert – May 23, 2017

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd has slammed U.S. intelligence officials for prematurely leaking information about alleged Manchester Arena attacker Salman Abedi to the press.

American news outlets were the first to suggest that the explosion at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester was a suicide bombing, with TV networks CBS and NBC the first to identify Abedi by name. However, they did so well before British authorities were prepared to release the information to the public, Rudd told BBC Radio 4.

READ MORE: ISIS claimed responsibility for Manchester attack – now what do investigators do?

“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 said.

“So it is irritating if it gets released from other sources, and I have been very clear with our [American] friends that that should not happen again.”
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Home Secretary Amber Rudd (L), Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham attend a vigil in Albert Square outside Manchester Town Hall.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd (L), Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham attend a vigil in Albert Square outside Manchester Town Hall. Danny Lawson / PA Images

Asked whether the Americans effectively compromised the British investigation into Abedi’s possible ties with terrorist groups, Rudd said she “wouldn’t go that far” but reiterated that she made U.S. officials “perfectly clear about the situation.”

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READ MORE: Manchester Arena attack: British PM May concerned another attack may be ‘imminent’

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured in the explosion, which Greater Manchester Police said was likely caused by Abedi detonating an improvised explosive device.

Abedi was born in Britain to Libyan immigrant parents and grew up around Manchester. His father and brother were reportedly arrested in Libya on Tuesday.

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