US embassy employee suspected of possessing indecent images of children sent back to US

Author, Vinny McAviney

Character, BBC reporter

Posted: 3 minutes ago

Reading time: 2 minutes

A US Embassy employee suspected of possessing indecent images of children was detained at his apartment in south London and put on a plane to leave the UK in August without being interviewed by British police.

The US Embassy in the UK confirmed to the BBC that authorities were investigating the allegations and said the employee had been transferred back to the US while the investigation continued.

"The U.S. government expects all personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and we take these allegations seriously," embassy officials said in a statement.

Officials added that they "quickly notified UK law enforcement and took prompt action".

It is understood that the man works at the US Embassy in Vauxhall, southwest London. He is not a diplomat but is covered by diplomatic protection.

He returned to the United States on a commercial flight, but the United States is still cooperating with British authorities as the investigation continues.

It is understood that the British Home Secretary and the Metropolitan Police (Metropolitan Police; London Metropolitan Police) are in close contact with the US Embassy on this matter, and the investigation is continuing.

A British government spokesman said: "We ask all foreign diplomats in the UK to abide by our laws, just as we ask all British diplomats abroad to do the same."