US diplomat removed from London amid child-image investigation without UK police notice
American officials covertly transferred a diplomat accused of possessing child-sex images from London to a US base, bypassing British police.
US officials conducted a covert operation in London, raiding the residence of an American diplomat suspected of holding indecent images of children and transporting him to a US airbase. No formal extradition request was made, and British police were not informed at the time of the removal. One outlet's seizure is tied to a broader US investigation involving another individual.
UK ministers are said to be discussing the matter with the US embassy, a development that could strain bilateral relations. A government spokesperson reiterated that foreign diplomats must respect UK law, mirroring expectations for UK diplomats abroad, but declined further remarks pending the US inquiry. The incident follows earlier concerns raised by then-deputy prime minister David Lammy over a separate US military legal case in the UK.
Why it matters
The covert removal raises questions about diplomatic immunity and cooperation between UK and US law enforcement.
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