US army officer arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for Russia

Russia spy probe (Reuters photo)

A US army officer assigned to a Nato unit in UK was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage linked to Russia, British counterterrorism police and other officials said.The arrest comes amid growing concerns over threats to American forces stationed in Britain and heightened tensions between Moscow and much of Europe.The 41-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested near Gloucester under two provisions of the National Security Act 2023 -- assisting a foreign intelligence service and obtaining or disclosing protected information.The suspect was serving with Nato's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps at Imjin Barracks near Gloucester, according to a US official, a senior Nato official and a British government official.

The US official said the man was an officer. All three spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps is a multinational land unit within Nato designed to respond swiftly to crises and short-notice operations. According to its website, the formation comprises forces from 20 nations but is led by Britain and based in Gloucester, where the US soldier was arrested.

US Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of the army's Counterintelligence Command, described the suspect as a senior soldier in a news release but provided no further details about his identity. Authorities have not disclosed additional information about the case.The metropolitan police said its counterterrorism officers worked closely with the FBI and the US military. FBI director Kash Patel described the arrest as an “important arrest" involving espionage allegations that are of “utmost concern” for the US and its allies.“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," Patel said.The suspect was being held at a London police station, officials said. Searches were carried out at two locations in Gloucestershire, a county about 140 kilometres west of London.Police said the arrest was unrelated to other counterterrorism investigations, ruling out a connection with a suspected terror plot linked to Iran in September at RAF Fairford, a US-run airbase near Gloucester.Following that threat, the US air force withdrew bombers that had been used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford. The air force also relocated aircraft from another British base, RAF Mildenhall, earlier this week following a threat that The Wall Street Journal reported was linked to Iran.Tuesday's arrest near Gloucester appears to be separate from those incidents, with authorities indicating that the investigation concerns Russia.Several European countries have recently warned of an escalating threat from Russian covert operations, including sabotage, espionage and drone incursions.Denmark's defence intelligence service said Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch military attacks against Nato only if he believed the alliance would not respond collectively and “especially if Russia assesses that the United States cannot or will not support the European Nato countries in a potential war against Russia.”Nato's supreme allied commander, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said last month that the alliance was prepared to fight if attacked. He made the remarks in Poland while outlining Nato's plans to defend against a possible Russian attack.Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the news agency AP has tracked more than 210 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe attributed to Russia by Western officials. These include alleged plots to set fire to warehouses, drone launches, attempts to kill enemies abroad, theft of defence technology and cyberattacks targeting critical European infrastructure.One of the latest incidents was an attempted drone attack on a German airport in August that officials blamed on Russia. The incident prompted Germany to shut down a Russian consulate.