Russia spy probe (Reuters photo)
The 41-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested near Gloucester under two provisions of the National Security Act 2023 — assisting a foreign intelligence service and obtaining or disclosing protected information. The formation comprises forces from 20 nations but is led by Britain and based in Gloucester, where the US soldier was arrested, according to its website. Searches were carried out at two locations in Gloucestershire, a county about 140 kilometres west of London.
The metropolitan police said its counterterrorism officers worked closely with the FBI and the US military. FBI director Kash Patel described the arrest as an “important arrest” involving espionage allegations that are of “utmost concern” for the US and its allies. The suspect was being held at a London police station, officials said. Police said the arrest was unrelated to other counterterrorism investigations, ruling out a connection with a suspected terror plot linked to Iran in September at RAF Fairford, a US-run airbase near Gloucester.
The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps is a multinational land unit within Nato designed to respond swiftly to crises and short-notice operations. A US army officer assigned to a Nato unit in UK was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage linked to Russia, British counterterrorism police and other officials said.
Tuesday’s arrest near Gloucester appears to be separate from those incidents, with authorities indicating that the investigation concerns Russia.