• Analysis
US soldier arrested in Britain on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence
A US soldier arrested in Britain was taken into custody by UK counter-terror police on Tuesday near Gloucester, west England, on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence. The 41-year-old senior member of the US Army has not been named.
What the suspect is accused of
The man is suspected of violating two sections of the National Security Act 2023: assisting a foreign intelligence service, and obtaining or disclosing protected information. He remains in custody at a London police station.
Joint work with US authorities
The Metropolitan Police said its counter-terror forces worked closely with the FBI and the US military on the case. FBI Director Kash Patel called it an important arrest dealing with espionage allegations of utmost concern for the US and its allies. He said: "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."
Police rule out links to other investigations
Police said the arrest was not related to other counter-terror investigations. They indicated it was not connected with a suspected Iran-linked terror plot in September at RAF Fairford, a US-run base near Gloucester.
- •The arrest is unrelated to other counter-terror probes, according to police.
- •Searches were underway at two locations in Gloucestershire, a county about 90 miles (140 kilometers) west of London.
Context at nearby US bases
After the September threat, the US Air Force withdrew from RAF Fairford bombers that had been used to strike Iran during the Middle East conflict. On Monday the US removed refuelling aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in eastern England, the second such apparent evacuation in three months; according to the Wall Street Journal it was prompted by an Iranian threat.
The 41-year-old remains in custody at a London police station, with searches continuing at two locations in Gloucestershire.
