US soldier arrested in UK over Russia-linked spying

US, UK flags during Trump's visit to the UK | The Guardian

A 41-year-old member of the United States Army has been arrested in the United Kingdom over alleged espionage linked to Russia.

The Metropolitan Police said the man was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, as part of an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing, working closely with US authorities, the US military and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In a statement published on its website on Tuesday, the force said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of offences under Sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act 2023.

The offences relate to obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service.

“The country to which the allegations relate is Russia,” the statement said.

The police said officers were also conducting searches at two locations in Gloucestershire as part of the investigation.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the arrest as the outcome of collaboration between British and American authorities.

“This significant arrest and investigation is a result of close collaboration between UK and US authorities,” Evans said.

“The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing.

“This activity demonstrates the strength of our UK and US law enforcement and national security partnerships, and I commend the work of all the teams involved.

“We will work together to take robust action against those we suspect of any criminal activity that could undermine our national security.”

FBI reacts

The Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, also described the arrest as an important development, saying the allegations raised concerns for the security of the United States and its allies.

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He disclosed this in a late night post on X on Tuesday.

“This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies,” Patel said.

“While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message – this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners.

“This includes 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests from this FBI over the last 21 months – a 53 per cent increase.”

Patel thanked the UK Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, UK Defence Counter Intelligence and the US Army Counterintelligence Command for their roles in the investigation.

Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, the commanding general of the US Army Counterintelligence Command, said the case demonstrated the importance of cooperation among security agencies.

“This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and the resolve of the counterintelligence community,” he said.

“I am grateful to the UK and the FBI for their professionalism and teamwork throughout this investigation.

“The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent.

“I encourage anyone who thinks they’ve witnessed something suspicious to report it to their local counterintelligence office.”

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect remained in custody at a London police station, while officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London were leading the investigation.

It added that the investigation was not connected to any other ongoing Counter Terrorism Policing investigations.