The anti-terrorism police of the United Kingdom arrested a 41-year-old United States Army officer on Tuesday, November 10, on suspicion of committing national security offenses related to Russia.
The soldier was assigned to a British facility that houses the headquarters of a NATO quick reaction unit.
The arrest took place near Gloucester, in the southwest of England, during an investigation conducted in collaboration with the FBI, U.S. authorities, and the military counterintelligence services of both countries, as confirmed by the Metropolitan Police of London in an official statement.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, remained in custody at a London police station when his arrest was announced.
The researchers were also conducting searches at two locations in Gloucestershire County.
British authorities specifically identified Russia as the country related to the ongoing suspicions under investigation.
Until the official announcement, no formal charges had been filed against the military official, nor had the gathered evidence been disclosed.
An American officer stationed at a NATO headquarters
A senior NATO official confirmed to CNN that the suspect was assigned to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), a multinational structure led by the United Kingdom and based at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire.
A U.S. official specified to CNN that it is a field-grade officer in the Army, a category that includes the ranks of major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. His exact rank has not been disclosed.
The ARRC is prepared to lead large-scale multinational NATO ground operations in crisis or conflict situations.
Its headquarters performs functions of planning, coordination, and command of allied forces.
The authorities have not specified which documents or systems the detained individual had access to, nor what information he might have been attempting to obtain.
Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commander of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, described the suspect as a high-ranking military officer who had been entrusted with sensitive information.
Stinchon warned that the alleged behavior of the officer serves as a reminder that internal threats against military institutions are real and persistent.
The military official would not have delivered sensitive information to Russia
Officials familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that the American officer allegedly tried to obtain classified information from a NATO facility to pass it on to Russia.
However, those sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that no sensitive information was transferred to Moscow.
British authorities have not publicly confirmed that detail nor revealed how long the officer had been under investigation or whether he had made contact with representatives of Russian intelligence services.
Russia denies any connection with the case
On Wednesday, November 11, the Kremlin denied any connection with the U.S. military personnel detained in the United Kingdom.
The Russian presidential spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, stated to reporters that Moscow has no connection to the arrest and that the Russian authorities are unaware of the circumstances surrounding the investigation, according to CNN.
The refusal came after the Metropolitan Police of London identified Russia as the country related to the espionage suspicions.
British and American authorities have not yet released any evidence regarding a possible involvement of Russian intelligence services.
What crimes does the British police investigate?
The arrest was made on suspicion of violations of sections 1 and 3 of the UK National Security Act 2023, which addresses offenses related to the acquisition or disclosure of protected information and assistance to foreign intelligence services.
Section 1 establishes penalties that can reach life imprisonment under certain circumstances related to the acquisition or disclosure of protected information connected to a foreign power.
Section 3 provides for penalties of up to 14 years in prison for assistance to a foreign intelligence service.
British legislation allows, under certain conditions and judicial controls, to hold a person in detention without charges for a maximum of 14 days in investigations of this nature.
The soldier had not been formally charged when his arrest was announced.
According to officials quoted by The Washington Post, he could also face proceedings in the U.S. military justice system once British authorities have made progress in their actions.
The FBI highlights the cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States
The FBI director, Kash Patel, described the espionage suspicions as a matter of utmost concern for the United States and its allies.
Detienen a un militar de EE.UU. en Reino Unido, sospechoso de espionaje para Rusia: ¿qué se sabe?In the statement released by the Metropolitan Police, Patel warned that the FBI will not tolerate the conduct of individuals who violate their oath of service to the United States and endanger national security or that of its international partners.
The FBI director also reported 167 arrests related to counterintelligence and espionage over the last 21 months, a figure that, according to his statements, represents a 53% increase compared to the previous comparable period.
Patel thanked the collaboration of the British antiterrorist police, MI5, the counterintelligence services of the UK Ministry of Defence, and the U.S. Army's Counterintelligence Command.
For her part, the deputy commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator of the British Anti-Terrorist Police, emphasized that the arrest was the result of close collaboration between the authorities of both countries.
Evans underscored the seriousness of the suspicions and stated that the investigation remains active. The Metropolitan Police also clarified that the case is not linked to other ongoing anti-terrorism operations in the United Kingdom.
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