US soldier arrested in UK for suspected ‘espionage’ for Russia
A senior U.S. soldier was arrested in Britain on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, British police said on Tuesday, after the U.S. removed aircraft from British military bases over a separate apparent threat from Iran.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest of the 41-year-old man was related to “allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies.”
Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, the commanding general of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, added: “The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent.”
The arrest, which took place near the city of Gloucester, west England, on Tuesday, “is not linked to any other ongoing Counter Terrorism Policing investigations,” British police said.
But it occurred the day after the U.S. removed refuelling aircraft from a British airbase in the second such apparent evacuation in three months.
Planes left the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, eastern England, on Monday, which, according to the Wall Street Journal, was prompted by a threat from Iran.
The U.S. in September withdrew bombers that had been used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford on security grounds over an incident police have linked to Iran, which has denied any links to attacks or incidents in Britain.
The soldier arrested on Tuesday was detained on suspicion of offenses under sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act, which relate to obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. Police said the country to which the allegations relate is Russia.
A senior U.S. soldier was arrested near Gloucester, England, on Tuesday for suspected espionage for Russia. The 41-year-old soldier, who had access to sensitive information, was detained under the National Security Act. This incident follows the U.S. withdrawal of aircraft from British bases amid threats from Iran, highlighting ongoing security concerns.
- A senior U.S. soldier was arrested in the UK for suspected espionage for Russia.
- The arrest occurred near Gloucester, England.
- The soldier is 41 years old and was entrusted with sensitive information.
- The arrest is not linked to ongoing counter-terrorism investigations.
- The U.S. recently removed aircraft from British military bases due to threats from Iran.