US soldier arrested near Gloucester on suspicion of Russia-linked espionage
A 41-year-old US Army member was arrested in England on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence. The FBI and Metropolitan Police worked jointly on the case.
US Army member held in England over alleged Russian spy links
A member of the United States Army was arrested in England on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage linked to Russia, pbs.org reports, citing the Metropolitan Police's counterterror unit.
The suspect, a 41-year-old man whose name has not been released, was detained near Gloucester on suspicion of breaching two sections of the National Security Act 2023 — specifically for allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service and for obtaining or disclosing protected information.
The Metropolitan Police said its counterterror officers worked in close coordination with the FBI and the US military. FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrest as "important," saying the espionage allegations were of "utmost concern" for the United States and its allies.
"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," Patel said.
The suspect was held in custody at a London police station. Searches were carried out at two locations in Gloucestershire, a county approximately 90 miles west of London.
Police confirmed the arrest was unconnected to other ongoing counterterror investigations — including a suspected plot linked to Iran that emerged in September at RAF Fairford, a US-operated air base also situated near Gloucester. Following that earlier threat, the US Air Force withdrew bombers from RAF Fairford that had been deployed to strike Iran during the Middle East conflict.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)