Senior US soldier arrested in UK on espionage suspicion

British counter-terrorism police arrested a 41-year-old United States soldier near Gloucester on Tuesday on suspicion of offences under sections one and three of the National Security Act. The arrest was made in collaboration with US military and FBI officials, and the suspect remains in custody at a London police station. Searches were also conducted at two locations in Gloucestershire as part of the investigation.

The soldier was reportedly stationed at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

"The arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. "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 noted that the FBI has made 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests over the past 21 months, a 53% increase, and thanked UK Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, UK Defence Counter Intelligence and the US Army Counterintelligence Command for their cooperation.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, described the allegations as serious and emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, praising the joint UK-US law-enforcement effort.

Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of the US Army Counterintelligence Command, said the case underscores the reality of insider threats and urged the public to report any suspicious activity to their local counterintelligence office.