A senior US Army soldier has been arrested in Britain on suspicion of spying for Russia, counter-terrorism police have said. The 41-year-old was detained near Gloucester on Tuesday 10 November and is being questioned at a police station in London.

The man, who has not been named or charged, was arrested on suspicion of offences under sections 1 and 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Section 1 covers obtaining or disclosing protected information, while section 3 covers assisting a foreign intelligence service. Police said the country to which the allegations relate is Russia.

Arrest near Gloucester

Counter Terrorism Policing London said the arrest was made on Tuesday 10 November near Gloucester in western England. Officers are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire as part of the investigation.

The BBC understands the soldier was based at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire, the headquarters of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, a British-led NATO command. A senior NATO official confirmed to CNN that the soldier was assigned to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Brigadier General Sean Stinchon, commanding general of the US Army Counterintelligence Command, described the arrested man as a senior soldier who was entrusted with sensitive information. The Associated Press reported, citing US, NATO and British officials, that he was serving in the British-led NATO corps.

Joint UK and US investigation

The investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, working closely with US authorities, the US military and the FBI. FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest involves allegations of espionage and is of the utmost concern to the United States and its allies.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: "The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing." Police said the arrest was not linked to any other ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.

Because the man is detained under the National Security Act 2023, police are allowed to hold him without charge for up to 14 days. He remains in custody at a London police station while officers examine the allegations.

Kremlin denies any connection

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia had no connection to the arrested soldier. "We have absolutely nothing to do with this, and it has absolutely nothing to do with us," he said.

Authorities have not said what information is alleged to have been obtained or disclosed, and no charging decision has been announced. An arrest on suspicion is not a charge, and the man has not been convicted of anything.

The arrest comes amid heightened concern in Europe about Russian espionage and hybrid attacks. The National Security Act 2023 replaced the UK's century-old Official Secrets Acts and created new offences covering espionage and assisting foreign intelligence services.