‘American spy on secondment to GCHQ knifed by terrorist’ in car park just 3 miles from agency’s Cheltenham headquarters
AN American spy was stabbed by an alleged terrorist just three miles from the GCHQ headquarters in Cheltenham, it is reported.
The US intelligence agent is believed to have been stabbed by a knifeman in a car park outside a leisure centre.
The female agent was in a car when the knifeman committed the grisly attack, according to the Mail.
Staff at the leisure centre called the police and the victim was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
It is reported the victim is an American spy, most likely with the National Security Agency, the US equivalent of the GCHQ.
She was reportedly working as secondment to GCHQ at the time of the attack.
Initially the stabbing was treated as attempted murder, but the suspect was re-arrested on suspicion of preparing and instigating a terrorist act 24 hours later.
The attack is reportedly being taken seriously by GCHQ, and police have been searching a local property connected to the arrested individual: a 29-year-old man.
Local Councillor Stephan Fifield said: “People are really curious about what happened. I was informed when it happened from the borough council but there has not been any further information, police have really locked it down.”
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said he believes the incident was isolated and that members of the community should not be concerned.
He said: “We appreciate that an incident of this nature may be concerning and we would encourage people to contact us via 101 with any additional information they may have about the incident.”
New reports from local residents have revealed the victim may have known the assailant, as they were allegedly seen “arguing” beforehand.
Locals were understandably shaken by the incident, with one saying they were wondering how it could be connected to a terrorist plot.
They told The Mail: “It’s pretty scary because it’s so quiet round here normally, the police never came to talk to anyone at the houses nearby so maybe they knew something about this before he was arrested.”
The Sun has reached out to GCHQ for a statement.