US Embassy employee in London who left Britain without being questioned turns out to be a senior Air Force officer

The suspect's identity and the circumstances of his departure

The US Embassy employee in London suspected of possessing and distributing material depicting child sexual exploitation, who left the UK before British police were able to question him, is a senior officer in the US Air Force. According to the BBC, citing its own information, he is Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris, who worked as an assistant military attaché at the embassy in south-west London. Although he did not hold diplomatic status, according to information obtained by the BBC, he was covered by diplomatic immunity. He was flown out of the UK in August on a civilian flight without first being questioned by British police.

Charges in the US and the military process

The charges are connected to the case of his brother, 33-year-old Benjamin Morris, who is facing trial in the state of Illinois on charges of possessing and distributing such material and denies them. Rock Island County prosecutor Dora Villarreal told the BBC that the charges against Benjamin Morris relate to the period from March to April 2026; investigators believe he shared the material with his brother. Michael Morris has already been questioned by US authorities. In September, the US Embassy in London confirmed to the BBC that an investigation was under way and that the employee had been recalled to the US while checks were carried out. Now a US Air Force representative has told the BBC that charges have been brought against Lieutenant Colonel Morris, who is assigned to the Air Force District of Washington, and that they will be reviewed to decide whether the case should go to a court-martial. A hearing is scheduled for November at Joint Base Andrews near Washington; Morris will state his position only if the case is referred to a court-martial. The Air Force stressed that the charges are merely allegations and that a service member is considered innocent until proven guilty.

The reaction of the British authorities

Scotland Yard said that since 25 August, when US authorities notified it of an investigation into alleged offences involving indecent images of children, it has been in regular contact with the US, is aware of the charges brought in the US, and continues to liaise with the American side. The British government said it expects all foreign diplomats in the country to comply with local laws, but declined to comment further because of the ongoing investigation in the US. According to the BBC's information, the government is in close contact with the US Embassy, including at ministerial level.

Image source, PA Images

Image source, US Air Force