A senior US Army officer has been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of espionage connected to Russia, according to British and American authorities. The 41-year-old officer was detained near Gloucester in an operation involving UK counterterrorism police and US military counterintelligence officials.
A US official identified the suspect as Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Tyner, a senior human resources officer based at Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire. The military site is home to the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Tyner joined the US Army in 2008 and has previously served in Afghanistan, Qatar and Iraq.
British police said the suspected activity involved possible offences under the UK’s National Security Act 2023. The relevant provisions cover obtaining or disclosing protected information and assisting a foreign intelligence service. Investigators also carried out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire as part of the case.
The suspect was being held at a London police station, according to a US military official. British authorities said the investigation remained active and that they were working with American agencies. The Metropolitan Police have not publicly released all the evidence or details of the alleged espionage activity.
The case has attracted attention because it involves a US military officer working at a NATO facility in Britain. The location plays a role in the alliance’s rapid-response structure, making questions about the protection of military information particularly sensitive.
The arrest also comes amid warnings from British intelligence officials about Russia’s attempts to conduct espionage and other forms of hostile activity in Europe. MI5 chief Ken McCallum has previously described Russia as a major threat to the UK’s national security.
The Kremlin has denied involvement in the matter. Russian officials said Moscow had nothing to do with the detention.
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect has not been convicted of any offence. British and American authorities are continuing to examine the allegations and determine whether formal charges will follow.
