U.S. soldier arrested in UK over Russia spying

A 41-year-old United States Army soldier has been detained in the UK on suspicion of espionage, authorities announced on Tuesday. The individual was apprehended near Gloucester, England, by officers from the Counter Terrorism Policing unit as part of an investigation under the UK’s National Security Act 2023. British police allege the soldier is suspected of offenses related to acquiring or disclosing protected information and providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.

He is currently in custody at a London police station while authorities continue their probe. Security forces have also conducted searches at two locations in Gloucestershire, though specifics regarding the nature of the sensitive data or the events leading to the arrest remain undisclosed. FBI Director Kash Patel affirmed the severity of the allegations, labeling them as espionage and asserting that the FBI would not tolerate actions threatening national security.

British officials disclosed that the investigation is ongoing, emphasizing collaboration with their American counterparts.