MPs have called for an American diplomat suspected of possessing child abuse images to be extradited to Britain after he was allegedly removed from the country by US officials without the knowledge of British police.
The former US serviceman was working at the American Embassy in Nine Elms, London, when he was reportedly taken from his home in Putney in August and flown to the United States on a cargo aircraft.
It is claimed that US authorities found child abuse images at the property during an investigation into the man’s brother, who is based in America and is accused of sending abusive material to him.
The Metropolitan Police said it was informed of the investigation on August 25, the same day US authorities searched the property. British officials were reportedly notified only after the man had left the country for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, described the alleged removal as “absolutely grotesque” and urged the Government to take action.
Writing on X, he said: “The US government is now protecting alleged paedophiles.
“US Marines conducting a raid on British soil, on which they have no jurisdiction, to seize one of their own diplomats and use US military resources to ferry the suspect out of the country is completely unacceptable.
“This is yet another flagrant breach of the Visiting Forces Act 1952, which no longer appears to be fit for purpose given the contempt in which the US hold it; Our Government must act.”
Calls for American diplomat to face investigation in Britain
Mark Stephens, a lawyer specialising in international litigation, said the United States had ignored international law by taking the man out of Britain.
“The Americans have shown a heavy-handed disregard for our law and effectively extraordinarily rendered one of their own citizens,” he said.
“It is embarrassing and it seems astonishing that they have done this without alerting the Metropolitan Police.
“If a crime is committed here the crime should be tried here, and there are potentially victims of abuse in this country.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “On 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 alleged operation is believed to have involved Marine Security Guards, who provide security at the US Embassy.
Flight records appear to show that a US-linked cargo aircraft travelled from Chicago to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on August 24 before flying to Dover Air Force Base the following day. The aircraft later returned to Chicago.
The Boeing 747 left Fairford at 5.33pm as flight K4529 and arrived in Delaware at 7.44pm local time after a journey lasting seven hours and 11 minutes. It was listed as a cargo aircraft and had not visited Fairford for at least two months before the journey, according to the records.
It is understood that US authorities may have obtained a court order in America before the search, as the investigation centred on the suspect’s brother.
The US Embassy has not identified the man or provided further details of the investigation. A spokesman said: “We are aware of allegations concerning an individual assigned to the Embassy. The United States government expects all personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and we take these allegations seriously.”
The claims have reportedly been discussed at senior levels of the British Government, including in meetings involving Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
A Government spokesman said: “We expect all foreign diplomats in the UK to abide by our laws. As a US investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
