A senior US Army member is arrested in England on suspicion of spying for Russia, and the FBI says it is espionage
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 41-year-old senior member of the US Army near Gloucester, in western England, on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence. He is being held at a London police station and has not been charged. The arrest was made with the FBI and the US military, and comes as Washington is already pulling aircraft out of British bases over security threats.
Updates
- 4.10am AWSTLatest
The man remains in custody in London; police have not named him and no charge has been announced.
- Early Wednesday AWST
British police confirm the arrest of a 41-year-old senior US Army member near Gloucester under the National Security Act, with searches at two Gloucestershire addresses. FBI Director Kash Patel says the case involves allegations of espionage.
Three things to know
- The man was arrested on Tuesday, UK time, on suspicion of offences under sections 1 and 3 of the UK's National Security Act, which cover obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service.
- Police said the country the allegations relate to is Russia, and that the case is not linked to their other counter-terrorism investigations, including the suspected Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford in September.
- FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest "involves allegations of espionage". The man's name, rank and unit have not been released.
A 41-year-old senior member of the US Army was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday, UK time, on suspicion of helping Russian intelligence, British police said. He remains in custody at a police station in London while officers search two addresses in Gloucestershire.
He was arrested under sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act, the UK’s main law against spying for foreign states. Section 1 deals with obtaining or disclosing protected information; section 3 with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Arrest is not a charge, and he has not been charged with any offence.
Counter-terrorism police said they were working closely with US authorities, the US military and the FBI. “The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing,” senior counter-terrorism officer Vicki Evans said.
What has Washington said?
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest and said it involved allegations of espionage. Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commander of US Army Counterintelligence Command, said the case showed that “insider threats are real and persistent”.
Neither government has said what information is involved, where the man was based or what his job was. US authorities have not said whether he will face charges in the United States as well.
Why is this case unusual?
Britain has used the National Security Act against suspected Russian networks before: in October 2025, police arrested three men in London on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. A serving member of the US military, arrested on British soil, with the FBI involved from the start, is a different kind of case: it points to a joint investigation by two allies into one of their own.
Gloucestershire is also home to RAF Fairford, a base used by US bombers. Police were careful to say this arrest is not connected to the investigation there, where two people have been charged over a suspected Iran-linked plot in September.
What is the wider picture?
The arrest lands at a tense moment for the US military presence in Britain. The US has this week moved tanker aircraft out of RAF Mildenhall and raised security at its bases over a threat it links to Iran, a day after President Donald Trump said the Iran war was effectively over.
It also comes as Russia, Ukraine and the US hold their first direct talks in nine months in Abu Dhabi. Moscow has previously denied involvement in espionage cases brought by British police.
What does it mean for Australia?
Australia shares intelligence with both countries through the Five Eyes network, and US personnel serve alongside Australians at joint facilities. An alleged leak from inside the US military to Russia is the kind of breach allies review for their own exposure, although nothing released so far suggests Australian information is involved.
VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.
How we got here
The key moments that brought this story into focus. Open any moment for detail.
2023New spy law
The UK's National Security Act becomes law, creating offences of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
October 2025London arrests
Police arrest three men in London on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
September 2026RAF Fairford arrests
Police arrest suspects over a suspected Iran-linked plot at the US-run base in Gloucestershire; two are later charged.
9 November 2026US moves aircraft
US tankers leave RAF Mildenhall and security is raised at US bases in England over a threat linked to Iran.
10 November 2026Arrest near Gloucester
A 41-year-old senior US Army member is arrested on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence.
What happens next
Police must either charge the man, release him or seek a court's approval to keep holding him for questioning. Any charge would be announced by the Crown Prosecution Service, and the man would then appear in court. US authorities have not said whether they will seek to bring their own case.
Sources
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