The attack in Manchester and Libya

The media continue to discuss the terrorist attack in Manchester . The main topic discussed now is the possible connections of the alleged terrorist with Libya and the Islamic State terrorist organization (IG, prohibited in the Russian Federation). In parallel, the media story develops about the tension between the British and American special services in connection with information leaks.

Wall Street Journal writes that the British police began to investigate the presence of ties between the Manchester suicide and terrorist groups. If initially there were talk that the terrorist was a loner and acted on his own initiative, now the investigation focused on the version that he was not alone. This was facilitated by the identification of information about the belonging of the alleged terrorist and his brother to IG.

The cover "The Sun"

The Economist has published the material of jihadists in Libya in this regard. IS is crowded in Iraq and in Syria, which undermines their associates in the possibility of caliphate. Libya was a kind of refuge for them, which can now begin to perceive them as a spare base. Although jihadists in Libya declare little about themselves, they are there and, in principle, can use it as a platform for access to other countries. In this sense, it is significant that the investigation of the Manchester attack revealed ties with Libya.

In Libya, the author explains, the chaos has reigned since 2011, when the government of Muamar Gaddafi was overthrown with the support of the West. Since then, there is a constant struggle for power between numerous armed groups, which fuele different rival governments of other countries. This chaos has become a nutrient medium for IG, which also contributes to it, capturing water pipelines.

Actually, IS militants, according to estimates, are not so many - about 500 people. But the total number of jihadists of various heads can reach three thousand. Given the general uncertainty of loyalities, all these militants can arbitrarily unite. Meanwhile, the author concludes, Europe is only 400 kilometers from Libya, and the current situation is alarming. So far, IG and his allies in Libya behave quite quietly, but it is possible that they simply wait, restoring strength.

Salvation of refugees from Libya Irish Defense Force

Financial Times writes that according to the results of the Manchester attack, the British intelligence services thought about the suspension of the exchange of sensitive intelligence with Washington. The reason for such thoughts was allegedly leaks of the previously transmitted information that, according to special services, the life of the British can jeopardize the life of the British. One of the claims was that the American media published the name of the alleged terrorist with reference to American sources, while the British authorities called for their media not to disclose information that could prevent the investigation.

If an interruption of data exchange really happens, then this will be the first break in a close British-American cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism for many years. The seriousness of the situation, according to the authors, is manifested in the fact that the Prime Minister of Britain Teresa May was going to discuss this topic with US President Donald Trump during the NATO summit in Brussels. Confrontation in the field of secret information may apply to relations between Britain and the USA as a whole, which will lead to cooling between long -standing allies.