Authorities say the case concerns alleged intelligence activity and is not connected to separate counterterrorism investigations
By Midtown Times Staff
GLOUCESTER, England (Midtown Times) — A senior U.S. Army soldier was arrested in western England on suspicion of passing information to Russian intelligence, British police said Tuesday.
The 41-year-old was detained near Gloucester under Britain’s National Security Act. The suspected offenses involve obtaining or sharing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. Police identified Russia as the country connected to the allegations.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest involved espionage allegations that are a serious concern for the United States and its allies. Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, head of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, said the case underscored the persistent risk of insider threats involving people with access to sensitive material.
British police said the arrest was not related to other counterterrorism investigations. It came a day after U.S. refueling aircraft left RAF Mildenhall in eastern England. The Wall Street Journal reported that the aircraft’s departure was prompted by a threat from Iran.
The move followed a separate U.S. withdrawal of bombers from RAF Fairford in September, after security concerns connected to an incident British police have linked to Iran. Tehran has denied involvement in attacks or other incidents in Britain.
Authorities have not publicly identified the arrested soldier or provided further details about the alleged activity. The allegations have not been proven in court.
