US soldier arrested in UK over suspected Russian espionage

A 41-year-old member of the United States military has been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of espionage for Russia, according to Al Jazeera. Espionage means spying, in this case on suspicion of passing information to a foreign state.

The arrest took place near Gloucester, a city in southwest England. The man is suspected of breaching two sections of the National Security Act 2023, a British law that covers threats from foreign states. The offences cited are assisting a foreign intelligence service and obtaining or disclosing protected information.

London's Metropolitan Police, the capital's main force, said its counterterrorism officers worked closely with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US military to make the arrest. Police said the arrest is not related to other counterterrorism investigations.

Officers are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire, the county that includes Gloucester. The arrested man remains in custody at a London police station.