US Army soldier arrested near Gloucester on suspicion of spying for Russia
A 41-year-old senior US soldier was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday under the National Security Act 2023 on suspicion of espionage for Russia.
Senior US serviceman held in Gloucestershire over alleged Russian espionage
A 41-year-old senior US Army soldier has been arrested near Gloucester on suspicion of spying for Russia, Counter Terrorism Policing London confirmed on Tuesday. bbc.com reports the man is believed to have been based at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire — the headquarters of Nato's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC).
The arrest was made under section one and section three of the National Security Act 2023. Section one concerns the obtaining or disclosing of protected information; section three relates to assisting a foreign intelligence service. Officers are conducting searches at two locations in Gloucestershire as part of the investigation.
The soldier, who has not been named, is being held at a London police station. Under the National Security Act 2023, police may detain him without charge for up to 14 days. Counter Terrorism Policing said the arrest was not linked to any other ongoing investigations.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, from Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrest as "significant". "The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing," she said.
FBI director Kash Patel issued a statement calling the case one of the utmost concern. "While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message — this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners," he said.
Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of US Army Counterintelligence Command, said the alleged conduct served as "a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent". He urged anyone who suspects suspicious activity to report it to their local counterintelligence office.
The ARRC, headquartered at Imjin Barracks, functions as a strategic operational base for the Nato alliance, adding particular sensitivity to the allegations surrounding the soldier's alleged activities.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)