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Police launch probe of ambassador emails 'leak' Sir Kim Darroch: UK police launch investigation into 'leak' of emails
(32 minutes later)
The Met Police has launched a criminal investigation into an alleged leak of diplomatic emails from the UK ambassador in the US that were critical of the Trump administration. The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into the alleged leak of diplomatic emails from the UK ambassador in the US, which were critical of the Trump administration.
Sir Kim Darroch stepped down as ambassador to the US on Wednesday, saying it was "impossible" for him to continue. Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said there was a "clear public interest" in bringing those responsible to justice.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said he was satisfied the leak had damaged UK international relations and there would be a "clear public interest" in bringing those responsible to justice. Sir Kim Darroch stepped down as ambassador on Wednesday, saying it was "impossible" for him to continue.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. President Trump had earlier said the US would no longer deal with Sir Kim.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. The US president branded him "a very stupid guy" after confidential emails emerged where the ambassador had called his administration "clumsy and inept".
Announcing the criminal investigation, Mr Basu said he was satisfied the alleged leak had damaged UK international relations.
He urged whoever was responsible to turn themselves in and "face the consequences".
"I would say to the person or people who did this, the impact of what you have done is obvious," he said.
"However, you are now also responsible for diverting busy detectives from undertaking their core mission."
The investigation was launched by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, which takes national responsibility for investigating allegations of criminal breaches of the Official Secrets Act, Mr Basu said.
The government had already opened an internal inquiry into the publication of the memos.
In the emails leaked to the Mail on Sunday, Sir Kim said: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction-riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept."
The emails, dating from 2017, said rumours of "infighting and chaos" in the White House were mostly true.