KUALA LUMPUR — US authorities allegedly removed an American diplomat from the UK and flew him back to the United States amidst an investigation involving indecent images of children, media report.
The diplomat, who is reportedly based at the US Embassy in London, was allegedly taken from his home in southwest London during a raid on Aug 25 and flown to the US from a military airbase, Anadolu Ajansi said citing British newspaper The Sun.
The report said US authorities had seized material during the operation but did not formally request the diplomat’s extradition from the UK.
BBC meanwhile, said the US embassy staffer had been repatriated without being first questioned by British police.
The British broadcaster said the US embassy there told it that the individual was not a diplomat but “enjoyed the umbrella of diplomatic protection”.
He has also be reassigned, and was also flown back to the US on a commercial flight. The embassy also told BBC that “inquiries continue” on the US side.
US personnel generally do not have police powers to arrest individuals in the UK, and any formal transfer of a person wanted for criminal proceedings would normally be subject to British legal procedures, including extradition where applicable.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that US authorities had informed it on Aug 25 of an investigation into suspected offences in London involving indecent images of children.
“We continue to liaise with them regarding this matter,” the police said.
According to The Sun, the US investigation was linked to another individual in the US who is allegedly the diplomat’s brother and is accused of sending abusive material to him.
The newspaper reported that a US court order may have been obtained before the raid and alleged that the diplomat was subsequently taken to a US military facility and flown to the US aboard a cargo aircraft.
Flight records cited by the newspaper showed a Kalitta Air Boeing 747 cargo aircraft flew from Chicago to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Aug 24.
The aircraft then reportedly departed Fairford on Aug 25 for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The report alleged that British authorities were informed of the operation only after the diplomat had been removed from the country.
The Sun quoted unnamed sources raising concerns that potential offences may have been committed in the UK. The paper’s sources questioned why British authorities were not involved before the diplomat’s removal.
Neither the Metropolitan Police nor US authorities have publicly disclosed the identity of the diplomat or confirmed the specific allegations against him. The investigation remains ongoing. – September 14, 2026