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A senior US Army soldier has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of spying for Russia, the Metropolitan Police announced on Tuesday night.
The unnamed 41-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday near the western English city of Gloucester as part of an investigation by British counter-terrorism police. British police worked with US authorities, including the military and the FBI, in their investigations.
A senior NATO military official confirmed Tuesday that the American service member has been assigned to the military alliance’s Allied Rapid Response Command (ARRC).
Headquartered in the county of Gloucestershire, England, the ARRC is a three-star NATO headquarters with over 400 permanent staff from over 20 countries and the ability to deploy ground forces where needed.
The person at the center of the case, who is being held in London, is suspected of committing offenses under sections 1 and 3 of the UK National Security Act.
Section 1 offenses relate to obtaining or disclosing protected information, and Section 3 relates to assisting foreign intelligence services.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment for a violation of Article 1 and 14 years’ imprisonment for a violation of Article 3. Fines may be imposed for either violation.
The Metropolitan Police added that officers were carrying out searches in two locations in Gloucestershire.
The alleged actions of a senior soldier entrusted with classified information are a somber reminder that the insider threat is real and persistent.
Sean Stinchon
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement Tuesday night that the allegations were “of greatest concern to the United States and our allies.”
“I want to send a clear message: The FBI will not tolerate those who violate their oath to America and whose actions endanger the safety of our country and our partners,” he said.
“The alleged actions of a senior soldier entrusted with classified information are a solemn reminder that the insider threat is real and persistent,” Gen. Sean Stinchon, commander of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, said in a statement.
On October 27, British prosecutors announced that they had charged a man with aiding and abetting a foreign intelligence service over an incident at a military base used by the United States in its attack on Iran. The base in question, RAF Fairford, is in Gloucestershire, about 30 miles from Imgin Barracks, the ARRC’s headquarters.
