The FBI arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Dighton, Massachusetts, on suspicion of leaking highly sensitive US defense and intelligence documents.
Teixeira is a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. He is reportedly the leader of an online gaming chat group where the leaked files were shared in recent months.
The New York Times reported that the FBI had been investigating Teixeira for some time and that an arrest was imminent, said a report on BBC News.
The arrest happened without incident. Teixeira was handcuffed and led to a car by FBI agents.
The documents that Teixeira is suspected of leaking contain a range of intelligence assessments about the war in Ukraine, as well as sensitive intelligence about countries around the world, including US allies.
The leak is considered a major breach of national security. It is unclear how Teixeira obtained the documents or why he leaked them.
Teixeira is scheduled to appear in federal court on Friday, April 14, 2023. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The leak has raised concerns about the security of classified information and the potential for foreign governments to exploit it.
The FBI is continuing its investigation into the leak.
