A US diplomat has reportedly been removed from Britain over allegations of possessing indecent images of children, with American officials said to have flown him out of the country without prior notification to British police.
According to The Sun, US authorities raided the diplomat's London flat last month, detained him and transported him to an American airbase for removal. American personnel hold no powers of arrest in Britain, and reports indicate no formal extradition request was made for the man.
Government response
UK ministers are believed to be liaising with the US embassy over the incident, which could add to tensions between London and Washington. A 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 seizure of the man is said to be linked to an investigation into another individual in the US. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police commented: "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."
Wider UK-US tensions
The incident comes amid mounting strains in the bilateral relationship. Donald Trump, the 47th US president, has voiced support for a united Ireland, telling reporters alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin that Irish unification was inevitable and "may as well happen now". He has also cast doubt on Britain's willingness to defend the Falkland Islands should Argentina attempt an invasion.
Two months ago, then-deputy prime minister David Lammy pledged to discuss with the US government the case of an American fighter pilot who evaded trial under English law for strangling a woman in Cambridge. Captain Jacob Wulfson was court-martialled at a US airbase, despite the alleged crime occurring while he was off-duty, and received a six-month sentence after being found guilty of strangulation. He was cleared of charges of sexual assault and aggravated sexual contact. Downing Street expressed concern at the time that his case had not been handled by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Press Association has approached the US embassy for comment.
