A 41-year-old "senior soldier" was picked up near Gloucester in a joint operation by British counter-terror police, the FBI and Army counterintelligence. He hasn't been charged or named.
By Joseph J. Jackson | TAMPA (Nov. 10, 2026)
The short version
A 41-year-old U.S. Army soldier was arrested near Gloucester, England, on Tuesday on suspicion of spying for Russia.
He's held in London under Britain's National Security Act 2023, suspected of handling protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Army counterintelligence calls him a "senior soldier" trusted with sensitive information.
He has been arrested, not charged. His name, rank, unit and base haven't been released.
What happened
A U.S. Army soldier is in custody in London tonight on suspicion of spying for Russia.
British counter-terror police arrested the 41-year-old man near Gloucester, in western England, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, London's Metropolitan Police said. He is being held at a London police station under the National Security Act 2023, Britain's main espionage law. (Metropolitan Police)
Police say he was arrested on suspicion of offenses under Sections 1 and 3 of that law. Section 1 covers obtaining or disclosing protected information. Section 3 covers assisting a foreign intelligence service. Police named the country involved: Russia. (CNN)
What we know
The suspect is a 41-year-old member of the U.S. Army. Police have not released his name, rank, unit or base.
He was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday. Officers are searching two locations in Gloucestershire.
Counter Terrorism Policing's London unit is leading the case, working with U.S. authorities, the U.S. military and the FBI.
Police say the case is not linked to any other ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.
Under British law, police can hold a suspect for questioning before prosecutors decide whether to charge him.
What officials are saying
Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, who commands U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, called the suspect a "senior soldier" who was trusted with sensitive information. "Insider threats are real and persistent," he said. (Metropolitan Police)
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest "involves allegations of espionage" and that the FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States. He said the bureau has made 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests in the past 21 months, which he called a 53% increase. He thanked British police, MI5, UK Defence Counter Intelligence and Army counterintelligence.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Britain's senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said the arrest came out of close work between UK and U.S. authorities. "The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing," she said. (London Now)
Why it matters
This is the second U.S. soldier in about 15 months accused of trying to help Russia. In August 2025, Fort Bliss soldier Taylor Adam Lee, then 22, was arrested in El Paso and charged with trying to pass sensitive information about the M1A2 Abrams tank to Russia. (CNN via KTVZ)
The British side has been busy too. Last month, Royal Navy sailor Teddy Young, 24, appeared in a London court on two National Security Act charges, accused of spying for Russia. (AP via U.S. News)
Moscow's spy services have been working Western militaries from the inside since the invasion of Ukraine, and this arrest happened on the soil of America's closest ally. The open question is what a "senior soldier" had access to, and for how long.
What's next
British police haven't said when they'll decide on charges, and neither government has said whether the soldier could be handed over to U.S. military or federal courts. FMNN will update this story as his name, charges and unit are released.
An arrest is not a conviction. The soldier is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Sources
Metropolitan Police / Counter Terrorism Policing, "Member of US army arrested as part of Counter Terrorism Policing investigation," Nov. 10, 2026 — https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/metpoliceuk/news/member-of-us-army-arrested-as-part-of-counter-terrorism-policing-investigation-514875
CNN, "US Army soldier arrested in UK for alleged espionage related to Russia," Nov. 10, 2026 — https://www.cnn.com/2026/11/10/uk/us-army-soldier-arrested-uk-alleged-espionage-russia
London Now, "London espionage probe – US Army member arrested over Russia claims," Nov. 10, 2026 — https://www.london-now.co.uk/news/26717889.london-espionage-probe--us-army-member-arrested-russia-claims/
CNN via KTVZ, Army soldier charged with attempting to share sensitive data on US tanks with Russia, Aug. 2025 — https://ktvz.com/?p=1556126
AP via U.S. News, "Royal Navy Sailor Appears in Court on Charges of Spying for Russia," Oct. 8, 2026 — https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-10-08/royal-navy-member-charged-with-preparing-to-disclose-sensitive-information-to-a-foreign-power
Photo: New Scotland Yard sign, London, home of the Metropolitan Police. Via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). File image.
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