A 41-year-old US Army soldier was arrested in the United Kingdom on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage linked to Russia, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
The unnamed soldier was arrested by British counter-terrorism police “working closely with US authorities, the US military and the FBI”, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. He remains in police custody at a London police station.
“The 41-year-old man was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday, November 10,” the statement said. “He was arrested on suspicion of offenses under sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act 2023.”
Section 1 of the law concerns the handling of “protected information” and Section 3 concerns “assistance to a foreign intelligence service.”
“As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire,” police said. “The country targeted by the allegations is Russia.”
Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, commanding general of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, said in the statement that the “senior soldier” in question had been “entrusted with sensitive information.”
FBI Director Kash Patel was quoted in the statement as saying the arrest “involves allegations of espionage.”
“While this investigation continues, I want to send a clear message that the FBI has no tolerance for anyone who violates their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners,” Patel said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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