Senior US soldier arrested in UK over alleged spying for Russia
A senior U.S. Army soldier has been arrested in England on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence, British authorities said Tuesday, in a case FBI Director Kash Patel said involved “allegations of espionage.”
The 41-year-old was arrested on suspicion of offenses under Sections 1 and 3 of Britain’s National Security Act, which concern obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. British authorities said the allegations relate to Russia.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The Telegraph reported, as an unconfirmed belief, that the soldier offered his services to Moscow but was in fact dealing with undercover officers posing as Russian operatives. It also reported that the arrest followed a long-running investigation involving MI5 and the FBI. Without this, a reader may picture actual contact with Russian intelligence. Because the detail is only 'believed', the gap is minor.
How we know
- The Telegraph reported“It is believed that the soldier volunteered his services to Moscow, but was in fact engaged by undercover officers posing as Russian operatives.”Senior US soldier arrested by British police for ‘spying for Russia’ (opens in a new tab)
According to the BBC, the soldier had been stationed at Camp Imjin in Innsworth, Gloucestershire, which houses the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Searches were carried out at two locations in the county, about 140 kilometers west of London.
The suspect has not been publicly identified and can be held for up to 14 days without charge.
Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, commander of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, said the alleged conduct of a senior soldier entrusted with sensitive information was “a reminder that insider threats are real and persistent.”
British police stressed that the arrest was not connected to any other ongoing terrorism investigation. The clarification came hours after it emerged that the United States had moved military refueling aircraft out of RAF Mildenhall in eastern England following an Iranian threat to target them.
In September, the United States also moved bombers that had been used in strikes on Iran from RAF Fairford in Britain, with security concerns linked to an Iranian threat again cited as the reason.
The Metropolitan Police said its counterterrorism officers worked closely with the FBI and the U.S. military in carrying out Tuesday’s arrest and investigation.
Patel called it an “important arrest” and said the underlying “espionage allegations” were a major concern for the United States and its allies.
“The FBI has zero tolerance for anyone who violates their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners,” he said.
The arrest comes amid growing concern over suspected Russian sabotage and intelligence operations across Europe since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Western officials have attributed roughly 200 incidents of sabotage and other hostile activity to Russia.
Those incidents have included warehouse arson, drone operations, attempts to assassinate opponents abroad, theft of defense technology and cyberattacks targeting critical European infrastructure.
One recent case involved an alleged drone operation targeting Leipzig airport in Germany in August. German authorities formally blamed Moscow for the attempt and subsequently ordered the closure of a Russian consulate.
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