London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Dec 25, 2025

Government did not know Harry Dunn's alleged killer was a US spy

Government did not know Harry Dunn's alleged killer was a US spy

The UK Government did not know that the woman suspected of killing Harry Dunn was a spy.

Harry Dunn, 19, was riding his motorbike when he died in a crash outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019.

US diplomat Jonathan Sacoolas’s wife, Anne, was charged with causing Mr Dunn’s death by dangerous driving.

But she claimed diplomatic immunity, meaning she cannot be prosecuted under British law, and the UK’s requests to extradite her have been blocked.

On Wednesday 3 a court in Virginia heard that one of the reasons she could not return to the UK to face trial was because she worked for a US intelligence agency at the time of Mr Dunn’s death and had fled the UK because of ‘issues of security’.

Her lawyer, John McGavin, told the court he could not ‘completely candidly’ explain why the Sacoolas family left the UK, adding: ‘I know the answer, but I cannot disclose it.’

Today, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson told reporters that the British Government did not know Mrs Sacoolas was a US spy.

He said: ‘We don’t comment on intelligence matters’, but added: ‘She was notified to the UK Government by the US as a spouse with no official role.

Referring to the latest developments he said:’I would emphasise that our position on this case remains unchanged, we have consistently called for her diplomatic immunity to be waived and believe that the US refusal to extradite her amounts to a denial of justice.’

Mrs Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and ‘fled’ the UK

Harry Dunn, 19, died in a road accident in 2019


The US and the UK have an agreement, dating back to 1995, that RAF Croughton staff cannot claim diplomatic immunity for actions that are not part of their duties and can be prosecuted for them in the UK.

But last year the High Court ruled Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity because she was the spouse of a US staff member, a loophole that has since been closed.

The recent revelation that she was in fact working for US intelligence could mean she may not have been entitled to claim diplomatic immunity as a spouse.

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy asked foreign secretary Dominic Raab to ‘explain himself’ over whether he ‘simply accepted the US Embassy’s account’ or whether he ‘misled the House’ over Anne Sacoolas’s role with the US State Department.

She said: ‘As an employee at RAF Croughton Anne Sacoolas would not have been entitled to immunity from prosecution.

Dominic Raab told MPs that she was entitled to protection as the spouse of an employee, but new information provided by her lawyer clearly indicates that she wasn’t.

‘Did the Foreign Secretary simply accept the US Embassy’s account without asking any of the right questions on behalf of a UK citizen, or has he misled the House?

‘After almost 18 months of fighting for justice for their son, Harry’s family deserve the truth. Dominic Raab must come before MPs tomorrow and explain himself.’

Harry Dunn’s mum Charlotte Charles said there is still time for both governments to work to get justice




Mr Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles said: ‘We did our level best before the campaign went public to try and deal with this amicably and publicly and we came up against a brick wall.

‘We’ve been put through hell over the last 18 months, totally needlessly.

‘That said, there is still time for both governments to come forward and to work with us to ensure that there is justice for my son.

‘We remain absolutely open to holding talks with officials in London and Washington to find a path forward.’

US State Department spokesman Ned Price ‘We again offer our sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for the loss of their son. This was a tragic accident.

‘Since the tragic accident occurred, the United States has been closely engaged with the UK government, and we have been transparent about our positions on legal and diplomatic matters concerning this accident.

‘At the time the accident occurred, and for the duration of her stay in the UK, the US citizen driver in this case had immunity from criminal jurisdiction.

‘As we have said previously, the driver had diplomatic immunity because she was the spouse of an accredited staff member of the US Embassy office.

‘We do not have further comment on these judicial proceedings.’

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: ‘The UK High Court has found that Anne Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity while in the country under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Mortgage Rates Edge Lower as Bank of England Base Rate Cut Filters Through Lending Market
U.S. Supermarket Gives Customers Free Groceries for Christmas After Computer Glitch
Air India ‘Finds’ a Plane That Vanished 13 Years Ago
Caviar and Foie Gras? China Is Becoming a Luxury Food Powerhouse
Hong Kong Climbs to Second Globally in 2025 Tourism Rankings Behind Bangkok
From Sunniest Year on Record to Terror Plots and Sports Triumphs: The UK’s Defining Stories of 2025
Greta Thunberg Released on Bail After Arrest at London Pro-Palestinian Demonstration
Banksy Unveils New Winter Mural in London Amid Festive Season Excitement
UK Households Face Rising Financial Strain as Tax Increases Bite and Growth Loses Momentum
UK Government Approves Universal Studios Theme Park in Bedford Poised to Rival Disneyland Paris
UK Gambling Shares Slide as Traders Respond to Steep Tax Rises and Sector Uncertainty
Starmer and Trump Coordinate on Ukraine Peace Efforts in Latest Diplomatic Call
The Pilot Barricaded Himself in the Cockpit and Refused to Take Off: "We Are Not Leaving Until I Receive My Salary"
UK Fashion Label LK Bennett Pursues Accelerated Sale Amid Financial Struggles
U.S. Government Warns UK Over Free Speech in Pro-Life Campaigner Prosecution
Newly Released Files Shed Light on Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Links to the United Kingdom
Prince William and Prince George Volunteer Together at UK Homelessness Charity
UK Police Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’ as Authorities Recalibrate Free Speech Enforcement
Scambodia: The World Owes Thailand’s Military a Profound Debt of Gratitude
Women in Partial Nudity — and Bill Clinton in a Dress and Heels: The Images Revealed in the “Epstein Files”
US Envoy Witkoff to Convene Security Advisers from Ukraine, UK, France and Germany in Miami as Peace Efforts Intensify
UK Retailers Report Sharp Pre-Christmas Sales Decline and Weak Outlook, CBI Survey Shows
UK Government Rejects Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Aid for Ukraine
UK Financial Conduct Authority Opens Formal Investigation into WH Smith After Accounting Errors
UK Issues Final Ultimatum to Roman Abramovich Over £2.5bn Chelsea Sale Funds for Ukraine
Rare Pink Fog Sweeps Across Parts of the UK as Met Office Warns of Poor Visibility
UK Police Pledge ‘More Assertive’ Enforcement to Tackle Antisemitism at Protests
UK Police Warn They Will Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC as Broadcaster Pledges Legal Defence
UK Says U.S. Tech Deal Talks Still Active Despite Washington’s Suspension of Prosperity Pact
UK Mortgage Rules to Give Greater Flexibility to Borrowers With Irregular Incomes
UK Treasury Moves to Position Britain as Leading Global Hub for Crypto Firms
U.S. Freezes £31 Billion Tech Prosperity Deal With Britain Amid Trade Dispute
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Potential UK Return Gains New Momentum Amid Security Review and Royal Dialogue
Zelensky Opens High-Stakes Peace Talks in Berlin with Trump Envoy and European Leaders
Historical Reflections on Press Freedom Emerge Amid Debate Over Trump’s Media Policies
UK Boosts Protection for Jewish Communities After Sydney Hanukkah Attack
UK Government Declines to Comment After ICC Prosecutor Alleges Britain Threatened to Defund Court Over Israel Arrest Warrant
Apple Shutters All Retail Stores in the United Kingdom Under New National COVID-19 Lockdown
US–UK Technology Partnership Strains as Key Trade Disagreements Emerge
UK Police Confirm No Further Action Over Allegation That Andrew Asked Bodyguard to Investigate Virginia Giuffre
Giuffre Family Expresses Deep Disappointment as UK Police Decline New Inquiry Into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Claims
Transatlantic Trade Ambitions Hit a Snag as UK–US Deal Faces Emerging Challenges
Ex-ICC Prosecutor Alleges UK Threatened to Withdraw Funding Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Bid
UK Disciplinary Tribunal Clears Carter-Ruck Lawyer of Misconduct in OneCoin Case
‘Pink Ladies’ Emerge as Prominent Face of UK Anti-Immigration Protests
Nigel Farage Says Reform UK Has Become Britain’s Largest Party as Labour Membership Falls Sharply
Google DeepMind and UK Government Launch First Automated AI Lab to Accelerate Scientific Discovery
UK Economy Falters Ahead of Budget as Growth Contracts and Confidence Wanes
Australia Approves Increased Foreign Stake in Strategic Defence Shipbuilder
×