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From the Washington Post via NDTV — First posted May 23, 2017

Aftermath of the Manchester bombing. Click to enlarge

Aftermath of the Manchester bombing. Click to enlarge

In the early hours of the morning of the 23rd May – approximately 02.35BST   NDTV via the Washington Post stated quite categorically that:
“U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified the assailant as Salman Abedi. They did not provide information about his age or nationality, and British officials declined to comment on the suspect’s identity.”
So, 4 HOURS AFTER THE EVENT AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER NAMED THE MANCHESTER BOMBER!
This was published at a time when British police and security services were refusing to make any statements as to who they thought the perpetrators were because at the time, they were dealing with the immediate aftermath of the blast.
Yet U.S. officials were already naming the chief suspect!!! How did they know so quickly while emergency services were still picking up the pieces and police investigations had barely even begun?
Is the why UK authorites are reportedly “furious” over the intelligence leak? Because it exposes their complicity in the bombing?

Manchester Bombing Suspect Identified, US Officials Say; ISIS Claims Responsibility

The Washington Post | Griff Witte, The Washington Post | Updated: May 24, 2017 07:25 IST — via NDTV

MANCHESTER:  The Islamic State claimed Tuesday that one of its “soldiers” carried out an apparent suicide blast in Manchester that killed at least 22 people, including teenagers and others streaming out of a pop concert.

U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified the assailant as Salman Abedi. They did not provide information about his age or nationality, and British officials declined to comment on the suspect’s identity.

Islamic State’s claim came as British investigators intensified their search for possible accomplices and police teams fanned out across the northern city after the worst terrorist strike in Britain in more than a decade.

The Islamic State did not give any details about the attacker or how the blast was carried out late Monday. Its statement was posted on the online messaging service Telegram and later noted by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant websites.

The Islamic State often quickly proclaims links to attacks, but some previous claims have not been proven.

British Prime Minister Theresa May called the carnage a “callous terrorist attack.”
“This attack stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives,” she said, speaking outside her Downing Street offices, where flags were lowered to half-staff.

Authorities believe they know the identity of the assailant, May added, “but at this stage of their investigations, we cannot confirm his name.”

Condemnations also poured in from other leaders around the world.

The Greater Manchester Police said in a statement that they arrested a 23-year-old man in south Manchester in connection with the attack, as hundreds of officers swarmed the city in the aftermath of the blast.

In Washington, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats said Tuesday that despite the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the Manchester attack, “we have not verified yet the connection.” He noted in a Senate hearing that “they claim responsibility for virtually every attack.”

The casualties included children as young as elementary school students. Police said that among the 59 people injured, a dozen were younger than 16

 

Continues …

Footnote — May 27, 2017

Our correspondents has been unable as yet to confirm the exact time the Washington Post story was published. So for the time being we withhold making any final conclusion. Ed.