London, Nov 10. (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – A US soldier has been arrested in Britain, on suspicion of national security offences linked to Russia, British police said on Tuesday, in a case the FBI said involves allegations of espionage.
The 41-year-old man was detained near Gloucester in south-west England, following an investigation involving British counterterrorism police, US authorities, the US military and the FBI.
He was arrested on suspicion of offences under Sections 1 and 3 of Britain’s National Security Act 2023, and remains in custody at a London police station.
Officers are searching two locations in the surrounding county of Gloucestershire. British police said the allegations relate to Russia.
Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, head of the US Army Counterintelligence Command, described the suspect as a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information. “The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent,” he said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said, “This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies.”
He thanked British counterterrorism police, the domestic intelligence service MI5, British defence counterintelligence officials and the US Army Counterintelligence Command for their work.
Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national co-ordinator for counterterrorism policing, said the arrest followed close collaboration between British and US authorities.
“The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing,” she said. London’s counterterrorism police are leading the investigation.
GNA