Senior US Army Soldier Arrested in UK Over Russia Spying

British counter-terrorism police have arrested a senior US Army soldier near Gloucester in western England on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, British and US authorities said on Tuesday (Nov 10).

The 41-year-old, who has not been named, was detained on Tuesday. A US official told CBS News he is a senior officer based at Imjin Barracks, home to the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Three people familiar with the matter and a senior NATO military official also confirmed his assignment there to NBC News.

Arrest Under National Security Act

Police said the soldier was held on suspicion of offences under sections 1 and 3 of the UK’s National Security Act 2023, which relate to obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. The Metropolitan Police said the suspected activity relates to Russia.

He was in custody at a London police station as of Tuesday, according to Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of US Army Counterintelligence Command. The BBC reported that he can be held there without charge for up to 14 days.

US Army Soldier Arrested Near Gloucester

Officers are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire, the county where the base is located, as part of the investigation, the Metropolitan Police said.

UK police said the arrest was not connected to any other ongoing Counter Terrorism Policing investigations. CBS News noted this means it appears unrelated to the recent suspected plot at RAF Fairford, which officials have linked to Iran.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the allegations were serious and that the investigation was “very much ongoing”.

Washington and Moscow Respond

Stinchon said the alleged conduct of a senior soldier entrusted with sensitive information showed that insider threats are “real and persistent”, NBC News reported.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest involved allegations of espionage that are of the “utmost concern” to the United States and its allies, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow on Wednesday (Nov 11), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had nothing to do with the soldier’s detention, according to CBS News.

Al Jazeera said it is believed to be the first time a US soldier has come under suspicion of spying for a foreign government while in the UK.

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