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Jack Teixeira: National Guard airman arrested over leaked Pentagon documents | Jack Teixeira: National Guard airman arrested over leaked Pentagon documents |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker | Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker |
Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker | Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker |
A 21-year-old US Air National Guardsman has been arrested over a leak of classified military intelligence that has rattled the US and its allies. | A 21-year-old US Air National Guardsman has been arrested over a leak of classified military intelligence that has rattled the US and its allies. |
Jack Teixeira, who reportedly shared the files in an online gaming chatroom, faces charges under the Espionage Act. | Jack Teixeira, who reportedly shared the files in an online gaming chatroom, faces charges under the Espionage Act. |
Aerial footage showed officers making an arrest at Mr Teixeira's family home in Dighton, Massachusetts. | Aerial footage showed officers making an arrest at Mr Teixeira's family home in Dighton, Massachusetts. |
The documents he leaked revealed intelligence about the war in Ukraine and US spying on allies. | The documents he leaked revealed intelligence about the war in Ukraine and US spying on allies. |
Footage of the arrest in the town of 8,000 people about an hour south of Boston shows a young man, believed to be Mr Teixeira, walking backwards with his hands raised to armed FBI officers. He was handcuffed and led to a vehicle. | Footage of the arrest in the town of 8,000 people about an hour south of Boston shows a young man, believed to be Mr Teixeira, walking backwards with his hands raised to armed FBI officers. He was handcuffed and led to a vehicle. |
Roads in the area were blocked by police officers during the arrest. | Roads in the area were blocked by police officers during the arrest. |
"There were about six to eight Army guys with rifles walking around," local resident Dick Treacy told Reuters news agency. "This is a very quiet area." | "There were about six to eight Army guys with rifles walking around," local resident Dick Treacy told Reuters news agency. "This is a very quiet area." |
Mr Teixeira is expected to make his first court appearance in Boston on Friday. | Mr Teixeira is expected to make his first court appearance in Boston on Friday. |
He was listed as a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, based at Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod. | He was listed as a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, based at Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod. |
According to his service record, obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Mr Teixeira joined the force in 2019. | According to his service record, obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Mr Teixeira joined the force in 2019. |
His official title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman and he holds the rank of Airman 1st Class - a relatively junior position. | His official title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman and he holds the rank of Airman 1st Class - a relatively junior position. |
In a brief statement on Thursday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the suspect had been taken into custody without incident. | In a brief statement on Thursday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the suspect had been taken into custody without incident. |
Jack Teixeira in a photo posted on social media | Jack Teixeira in a photo posted on social media |
Mr Garland provided no further details on the investigation or the motive for the leaks. | Mr Garland provided no further details on the investigation or the motive for the leaks. |
At a separate news conference earlier in the day, defence department spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said the leak was a "deliberate criminal act". | At a separate news conference earlier in the day, defence department spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said the leak was a "deliberate criminal act". |
When asked how such a young airman had access to classified defence documents, Gen Ryder said that across the US military, personnel are entrusted "with a lot of responsibility at a very early age". | When asked how such a young airman had access to classified defence documents, Gen Ryder said that across the US military, personnel are entrusted "with a lot of responsibility at a very early age". |
"Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat," he said. | "Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat," he said. |
Eddy Souza, a 22-year-old man who said he went to school with Mr Teixeira, told Reuters he was surprised his former classmate had been identified as the suspect in the leaks. | Eddy Souza, a 22-year-old man who said he went to school with Mr Teixeira, told Reuters he was surprised his former classmate had been identified as the suspect in the leaks. |
"He's a good kid, not a troublemaker, just a quiet guy," Mr Souza said. "It sounds like it was a stupid kid's mistake." | "He's a good kid, not a troublemaker, just a quiet guy," Mr Souza said. "It sounds like it was a stupid kid's mistake." |
What was in the leaks? | What was in the leaks? |
Starting several months ago, at least 50 but perhaps more than 100 classified documents were posted on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers. | Starting several months ago, at least 50 but perhaps more than 100 classified documents were posted on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers. |
The documents - which BBC News is examining - contain a range of intelligence assessments about the war in Ukraine, but also sensitive intelligence about countries around the world. | The documents - which BBC News is examining - contain a range of intelligence assessments about the war in Ukraine, but also sensitive intelligence about countries around the world. |
A defence department spokesman said the Pentagon is continuing to work to "understand the scope, scale and impact of these leaks". | A defence department spokesman said the Pentagon is continuing to work to "understand the scope, scale and impact of these leaks". |
In a statement, Republican congressman Mike Turner - the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee - vowed to "examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks". | In a statement, Republican congressman Mike Turner - the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee - vowed to "examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks". |
More Pentagon leaks coverage: | More Pentagon leaks coverage: |
What we know about US leaks suspect Jack Teixeira | What we know about US leaks suspect Jack Teixeira |
What punishment awaits the Pentagon files leaker? | What punishment awaits the Pentagon files leaker? |
Eight things we learned from the leaked files | Eight things we learned from the leaked files |
Leaks suggest US spied on UN chief | Leaks suggest US spied on UN chief |
How secret files on Ukraine spread, then disappeared | How secret files on Ukraine spread, then disappeared |
Western special forces inside Ukraine, leak shows | Western special forces inside Ukraine, leak shows |
On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an interview with one of the members of the chatroom where the documents initially appeared. | On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an interview with one of the members of the chatroom where the documents initially appeared. |
He described the leaker as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast in his early to mid-20s who worked at an unnamed military base. | He described the leaker as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast in his early to mid-20s who worked at an unnamed military base. |
The Post reported that the man was the leader of a Discord chatroom whose roughly two dozen members swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat" and prayed and watched films together. | The Post reported that the man was the leader of a Discord chatroom whose roughly two dozen members swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat" and prayed and watched films together. |
The members included people from Russia and Ukraine and a number of other countries in Europe, Asia and South America, the paper reported. | The members included people from Russia and Ukraine and a number of other countries in Europe, Asia and South America, the paper reported. |
At first the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in early March members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber. | At first the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in early March members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber. |
From there they were posted on the fringe message board 4chan and on the Telegram chat app, particularly on pro-Russia channels. In some cases they were altered to increase Ukrainian casualty counts. | From there they were posted on the fringe message board 4chan and on the Telegram chat app, particularly on pro-Russia channels. In some cases they were altered to increase Ukrainian casualty counts. |
The Air National Guard is the reserve of the US Air Force. | The Air National Guard is the reserve of the US Air Force. |
US President Joe Biden was briefed about Mr Teixeira's arrest while on a trip to Ireland, White House officials have confirmed to CBS. | US President Joe Biden was briefed about Mr Teixeira's arrest while on a trip to Ireland, White House officials have confirmed to CBS. |
Washington Post journalist: Pentagon document leaker had 'frantic' reaction | Washington Post journalist: Pentagon document leaker had 'frantic' reaction |
Washington Post journalist: Pentagon document leaker had 'frantic' reaction | Washington Post journalist: Pentagon document leaker had 'frantic' reaction |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Pentagon leaks | |
US national security | US national security |
National security | National security |
Jack Teixeira | |
United States | United States |