U.S. soldier accused of spying linked to Russia arrested in the U.K.

A U.S. Army soldier has been arrested in the U.K. on suspicion that he engaged in espionage linked to Russia, British and U.S. authorities announced Tuesday.The 41-year-old suspect was not identified, but a U.S. official told CBS News he is a senior officer based at Imjin Barracks, home to the headquarters for NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. He was arrested Tuesday near Gloucester, which is about 100 miles west of London. The soldier is suspected of violations under Section 1 and Section 3 of the U.K.'s National Security Act of 2023 — obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service, respectively. Metropolitan Police said the suspected activity relates to Russia and they are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire — the county where the base is located — related to the investigation.The suspect was in custody in a London police station as of Tuesday, according to Brig. Gen. Sean Stinchon, commanding general of U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command. "The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for the U.K's Counter Terrorism Policing force, in a statement. "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.