U.S. soldier arrested near Gloucester over Russia-linked espionage suspicions

A 41-year-old U.S. Army soldier was arrested near Gloucester, England, on November 10 on suspicion of Russia-linked espionage, according to CBS News. British authorities said the investigation was ongoing, with searches underway at two locations in Gloucestershire.

The Metropolitan Police cited sections 1 and 3 of the U.K. National Security Act 2023: obtaining or disclosing protected information, and assisting a foreign intelligence service. The arrest concerns suspicions under those provisions; the allegations have not established that the soldier committed an offence.

• The suspect is 41 and has not been publicly identified.
• Police said they were searching two locations in Gloucestershire and that the suspect was in custody at a London police station.
• CBS News reported that a U.S. official described the suspect as a senior officer based at Imjin Barracks.

What police say about the arrest

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for the U.K.'s Counter Terrorism Policing force, described the allegations as serious and said the investigation was ongoing, CBS News reported. U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command commanding general Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon confirmed the suspect was in custody, according to CBS News.

CBS News reported, citing a U.S. official, that the suspect is a senior officer based at Imjin Barracks, which houses the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. The Associated Press, republished by PBS News, said the Army Counterintelligence Command declined to provide further case details. The reports do not identify the suspect or describe the evidence behind the suspicions.

The Metropolitan Police said its counterterrorism forces worked with the FBI and U.S. military on the case, Al Jazeera reported. The provisions cited by police cover obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service, respectively.

How the case differs from RAF Fairford

Police said the arrest was unrelated to other counterterrorism investigations. The reports distinguish it from a suspected Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford in September. The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Air Force withdrew bombers from Fairford after that separate threat; it was not described as a consequence of this arrest.

What it means

The arrest brings a U.K. investigation involving a U.S. soldier into the two national security offences cited by police. Authorities say searches and the investigation are continuing. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency had no tolerance for people who break their oath and endanger U.S. or allied national security, CBS News and Fox News reported. Fox News attributed to Patel a figure of at least 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests under the FBI’s current leadership over the previous 21 months, a 53% increase; that is his reported agency figure.