Authorities in Northern Ireland are investigating after secret security documents for President Joe Biden‘s visit were found lying in the street in Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) papers discuss plans for road closures and local police deployments. A U.S. law enforcement official confirmed its authenticity to USA Today and a Secret Service official told the news outlet the agency tasked with protecting Biden has “full confidence in our partners.”
Stephen Nolan reported that a listener of his BBC Radio show, identified as “Bill,” was the one who made the discovery. The listener called into the show and said the security itinerary showed the names of officers and contact information.
Exclusive – listener calls Nolan after finding sensitive PSNI document detailing security plans for President Joe Biden's visit lying on the street
Podcast 📲 @BBCSounds pic.twitter.com/LdzTIjIeyh
— The Nolan Show, BBC (@BBCNolan) April 12, 2023
The Twitter account for BBC Radio Ulster’s “Nolan Show” shared an image of what appears to be a crumpled page marked “OFFICIAL SENSITIVE” with certain passages blacked out.
Nolan exclusive: PSNI-Biden secret security document found laying in street pic.twitter.com/gHQcNxFPOd
— The Nolan Show, BBC (@BBCNolan) April 12, 2023
PSNI said it was conducting an investigation into the security breach, according to The Telegraph.
Biden made the trip to Northern Ireland this week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, an accord which effectively put an end to a 30-year period of near-constant sectarian violence known as “the Troubles.”
The president met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and delivered a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday, urging Northern Ireland to “not go back” to the violent streak, after noting the recent shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell. The New IRA, a splinter group of the IRA, has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press.
MI5, the United Kingdom’s security agency, raised the terror threat level in Northern Ireland to “severe” at the end of March. The Belfast Telegraph reported over the weekend that police uncovered a suspected bomb plot to “upstage” Biden’s trip.
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The drama with the found security itinerary in Belfast comes as the U.S. government scrambles to respond to what appears to be leaked Pentagon classified documents circulating online.
In a statement over the weekend, a Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense (DoD) is working to assess the validity and national security impact of the documents. The source of the apparent leak remains unclear, but the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the matter following a referral from the DoD.