Police have searched a home in Gloucester where the US Army soldier arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia was reportedly living.
The 41-year-old senior soldier was detained on Tuesday in a major MI5, FBI and counter-terrorism operation and is accused of offering to spy for Moscow after being ‘entrusted with sensitive information’.
He was reportedly based at Imjin Barracks – the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – in Innsworth, but was taken into custody for questioning.
Now, officers have been pictured searching a detached property in a quiet Gloucester cul-de-sac where the soldier is understood to have been living prior to his arrest.
Plain-clothed officers trawled through the home with evidence tents and cordons set up outside. The property is one of nearly 100 used by military personnel and their families opposite Imjin Barracks.
Senior sources at the military told The Sun that they are ‘confident’ the soldier did not leak any information with ‘any genuine Russians’, though those living on the estate expressed their concern.
One said: ‘It is early in the investigation of course, and we do not know all the facts yet.
‘But if he has been spying for another country, then it is a huge betrayal of this wonderful international community living here.
Officers searched a property in a quiet Gloucester cul-de-sac on Tuesday following the arrest of a US soldier on suspicion of spying for Russia
More than five cars were pictured outside the home, situated in an estate home to almost 100 military personnel
Two plain-clothed officers are seen outside the home yesterday
An officer wearing a hat trawls through a vehicle parked outside the home
‘It makes me feel sick to my stomach to think that someone could betray all that we stand for here.’
The unnamed soldier is reportedly held at a London police station after being arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 1 and Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.
Sources said the arrest was not related to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which was the subject of an alleged Iranian plot in September.
But in an indication of the seriousness of the threat, the head of the FBI, the Commanding General of US Army Counterintelligence Command and the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing released a press release describing the arrest as a ‘significant’ joint operation.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: ‘This significant arrest and investigation is a result of close collaboration between UK and US authorities. 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.’
The investigation is not linked to any other counter terrorism police investigation in the UK.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: ‘This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies. 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.
‘This matter shows that partnerships are essential to protect our countries and I want to express my thanks to UK Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, UK Defence Counter Intelligence, and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command for their outstanding work.’
