Senior U.S. Army Soldier Arrested in England on Suspicion of Spying for Russia

British counterterrorism police on Tuesday arrested a senior U.S. Army soldier near Gloucester, England, on suspicion of offenses under the National Security Act that relate to Russia, police said.

Police have not named the 41-year-old, who was stationed at Imjin Barracks, in Innsworth in Gloucestershire. That base is where NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps has its headquarters. He is suspected of offenses under two parts of the 2023 law: Section 1, which deals with getting or revealing protected information, and Section 3, which deals with helping a foreign intelligence service. Under the act, a person convicted under Section 1 faces up to life in prison, and a Section 3 conviction carries a term of up to 14 years.

Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation, and officers have searched two locations in Gloucestershire. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the arrest grew out of "close collaboration between UK and US authorities" and called the allegations "serious." The law lets police hold the soldier for up to 14 days before charging him.

Kash Patel, the FBI director, said the case involves espionage allegations, which he called of the "utmost concern to the United States and our allies." He added that "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 bureau's counterintelligence and espionage arrests totaled 167 in the past 21 months, a 53% increase.

Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, who leads U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, described the alleged conduct "of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information," as "a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent."

Moscow denied any role. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters Wednesday that Russia had "nothing to do with" the arrest. Police said the case has no link to any other current investigation.

The arrest coincides with U.S.-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Jared Kushner, a U.S. envoy at those talks, said he would fly to Moscow on Thursday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.