The United States secretly removed an American diplomat stationed in London after the individual was suspected of possessing criminal material, according to reports published by the Daily Mail and The Sun.
The operation was reportedly carried out without advance notification to British authorities, who were informed about the investigation only after the diplomat had already been taken out of the country.
The investigation began after American officials allegedly suspected that the diplomat’s brother, who lives in the United States, had sent the material to him. Last month, U.S. investigators reportedly raided the diplomat’s London apartment, apparently using a search warrant issued by an American court.
After the material was discovered, the diplomat was transported in a military convoy to a U.S. Air Force base in Britain. He was then flown back to the United States aboard a military-chartered aircraft.
Flight records reportedly confirmed the timeline of the operation. On August 24, a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft landed at RAF Fairford after flying from Chicago. The following day, during the raid, the aircraft departed the base and flew to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
British officials were reportedly angered by the unilateral American operation and the decision to bypass local authorities. The incident led to emergency discussions involving senior British officials, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
A British government spokesperson said that all foreign diplomats in the United Kingdom are expected to follow British law, adding that it would not be appropriate to comment further while an American investigation is ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police said U.S. authorities informed them on August 25 about an investigation into suspected criminal offenses believed to have occurred in London. Police said they remain in contact with American officials regarding the matter.
The U.S. Embassy in London did not deny that the diplomat had been removed. A spokesperson said the embassy was aware of the claims and that the United States expects all of its personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
