London police hold senior US soldier arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia

London's Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism unit arrested a 41-year-old senior US Army soldier near Gloucester on Monday, November 10, on suspicion of offences under the National Security Act 2023 linked to Russia. He is being held at a London police station, has not been charged, and his name and rank have not been released.

The alleged offences and detention limit

Police say the soldier is suspected of offences under Section 1 of the Act, covering obtaining or disclosing protected information, and Section 3, covering assisting a foreign intelligence service, with Russia named as the country concerned. Under the Act, police can hold a suspect without charge for up to 14 days. Officers have searched two addresses in Gloucestershire, and police stressed the case is not connected to any other counter-terrorism investigation.

Reported posting at NATO rapid reaction headquarters

The BBC understands the soldier was based at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire, the headquarters of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). FBI Director Kash Patel said the case involved espionage allegations of “utmost concern” to the US and its allies; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied on Wednesday that Russia had anything to do with it. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Metropolitan Police's senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said the arrest was the result of close collaboration between UK and US authorities. It is believed to be the first time a US soldier has been suspected of spying for a foreign government while in the UK. Sources: Metropolitan Police, BBC, TBS News.