US authorities secretly removed an American diplomat from Britain after he was accused of possessing indecent images of children, reportedly flying him from London to a US military base without notifying British police in advance.
The diplomat is understood to have been taken from his London flat during a raid last month before being transported to an American airbase for removal from the UK.
The episode risks creating fresh tensions over the extent to which US personnel can be shielded from British legal jurisdiction, particularly after a separate case involving an American military pilot who avoided prosecution under English law.
The diplomat has not been reported to be subject to an extradition request. US personnel do not have powers of arrest in Britain, while British ministers are understood to be discussing the circumstances of his removal with the US embassy.
A UK government spokesperson said: “We expect all foreign diplomats in the UK to abide by our laws, in the same way we expect all UK diplomats to do so when posted overseas.
“As a US investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
The Metropolitan Police said the US authorities had notified them of the investigation.
A spokesperson said: “On Tuesday August 25, US authorities made us aware of an investigation they are conducting into suspected offences in London relating to indecent images of children.
“We continue to liaise with them regarding this matter.”
The case is reportedly connected to an investigation into another individual in the US, according to The Sun.
The incident comes just two months after then-deputy prime minister David Lammy said he would raise concerns with Washington over the case of American fighter pilot Captain Jacob Wulfson.
Wulfson avoided trial under English law after allegedly strangling a woman in Cambridge in 2023 while off duty. He was instead tried by court martial on a US airbase, where he was convicted of strangulation and sentenced to six months in prison, while being acquitted of sexual assault and aggravated sexual contact charges.
Downing Street said at the time it was “very concerning” that the case had not been dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The latest case has again raised questions over how American diplomatic and military personnel are dealt with when allegations concern conduct on British soil.
The US embassy said it had acted swiftly after becoming aware of the allegations.
“We are aware of allegations concerning an individual assigned to the US Embassy in London. The United States government expects all personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and we take these allegations seriously.
“While we can’t comment on the specifics of the case, we quickly informed UK law enforcement and took swift action, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners regarding these allegations.
“The individual in question has been reassigned to the United States in conjunction with an ongoing investigation. The Embassy has informed British authorities of the case.”
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