An American diplomat accused of possessing child abuse images was allegedly removed from his London home and flown to the United States by US officials before British police were informed, prompting questions over whether the UK’s criminal justice procedures were bypassed.
The man, a former US serviceman working at the American Embassy in Nine Elms, south London, is said to have been taken from his private address in Putney during a dawn operation on August 25.
US officials are understood to have discovered indecent images of children at the property. The investigation was reportedly linked to allegations involving the diplomat’s brother, who is based in America and is accused of sending abusive material to him.
The Metropolitan Police said American authorities notified them of an investigation into suspected offences in London on the day of the alleged raid.
“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,” the force said. “We continue to liaise with them regarding this matter.”
Sources have claimed the diplomat was taken to a US airbase in a military convoy before being flown more than 4,000 miles to the United States, where the investigation into his brother was already under way.
One source said: “They should have told Scotland Yard when they carried out the raid, and certainly when they found material.
“Instead we think they have taken him to a US airbase and flown him 4,000-plus miles to where his brother was being investigated. We think it was a dawn raid before they then took him to the base in a US military convoy.
“The man may well face justice in the US but he should be before the courts here.”
Questions over US operation in London
The operation is believed to have involved Marine Security Guards, who provide security at the US Embassy. It is also understood that US authorities may have obtained a court order in America before the raid.
Flight records appear to show unusual movements by a US-linked cargo aircraft around the time of the alleged removal. A Kalitta Air Boeing 747 travelled from Chicago to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on August 24.
The same aircraft left Fairford at 5.33pm the following day and arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware at 7.44pm local time, after a flight lasting seven hours and 11 minutes. It later flew on to Chicago.
The aircraft was listed as a cargo plane and had reportedly not visited Fairford for at least two months before the journey on August 25.
The claims have led to meetings involving Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and senior ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The US Embassy has not confirmed the identity of the individual or provided 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 Government 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.”
The allegations have revived concerns over cases in which US personnel leave Britain before facing proceedings in the UK, including the dispute over the death of teenager Harry Dunn.
Mr Dunn, 19, died in August 2019 after his motorbike collided with a car driven by American national Anne Sacoolas outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.
Ms Sacoolas returned to the United States after the crash, with diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf, and the US rejected a British extradition request after she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
She later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was sentenced by a British court in 2022 during a virtual hearing, having refused to return to Britain.
A 2025 independent review of the Government’s handling of the case identified failures and omissions in the Foreign Office’s response. The Government accepted all 12 recommendations, while changes were made to address the immunity issue and a specialist team was created to handle complex diplomatic immunity cases.
The Metropolitan Police said it remains in contact with US authorities over the investigation.
