A U.S. soldier has been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of espionage related to Russia, Britain’s counterterrorism police said Tuesday.
The 41-year-old man, who was unnamed by the Metropolitan Police, was apprehended near Gloucester, England, under a British national security law enacted in 2023. The law is designed to counter espionage and foreign interference.
British officers are actively searching two locations in Gloucestershire in connection with the investigation, according to London’s police force. The U.S. soldier’s arrest came as a result of collaboration between British and U.S. authorities.
“This activity demonstrates the strength of our UK and US law enforcement and national security partnerships, and I commend the work of all the teams involved,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said in a statement. “We will work together to take robust action against those we suspect of any criminal activity that could undermine our national security.”
FBI Director Kash Patel also commented on the investigation, saying espionage “is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies” as Russia’s war with Ukraine persists.
“While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message — this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners,” Patel said.
Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon highlighted the severity of the suspect’s alleged actions that led to his arrest.
“The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent,” Stinchon said. “I encourage anyone who thinks they’ve witnessed something suspicious to report it to their local counterintelligence office.”
The U.S. military declined to comment further on the case.
“We are aware of these reports and won’t comment on an ongoing investigation,” Terry Welch, a spokesperson for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, told the Washington Examiner.
The unidentified serviceman is being held in custody at a police station in London. The Metropolitan Police said the Russian espionage investigation is not linked to any other Counter Terrorism Policing investigations.
In September, there was a suspected terrorist plot linked to Iran that would have targeted a Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire if the plan was not foiled. RAF Fairford was used by the U.S. Air Force for its strikes on Iran. Following the threat, the U.S. military withdrew its bombers from the air base.
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Based on the Metropolitan Police’s statement, the detained U.S. soldier appears not to be involved in the suspected terrorist plot.
Three suspected Iran-backed operatives who allegedly plotted the attack were charged in the United States in an unsealed federal indictment on Tuesday.
Mike Brest contributed to this story.