US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson 'regrets' Manchester bombing leaks

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May 26, 2017 2:05 PM

Tillerson said "all across America, hearts are broken" at news of the Manchester Arena attack.

Rex Tillerson and Boris Johnson in London.

LONDON — US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he "regrets" the series of leaks about the Manchester Arena bombing in US media.

Speaking at a joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Tillerson said, according to Reuters: "We take full responsibility for that, and we obviously regret that that happened."

Tillerson, who is in London as a show of support after Monday night's terrorist attack killed 22 people and injured dozens more, said the US officials who leaked the details of bomber Salman Abedi's explosive device should face prosecution.

The New York Times obtained photos and intelligence related to the investigation in an article published Wednesday. The report contained photos of the backpack believed to have been used by Abedi, who died in the blast, to house his explosive device, as well as details on how the bomb may have been constructed and detonated.

The UK deemed the leaks dangerous enough to briefly stop sharing intelligence with the US about the attack, though normal service was resumed Thursday evening. Tillerson said he expected the close security relationship between the US and Britain to withstand the leaks, according to Reuters.

Tillerson added that "all across America, hearts are broken" at news of the Manchester attack on people attending a concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande.

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