A US spy posted to GCHQ was stabbed last week by an alleged terrorist in the city where the British intelligence agency is based, it was reported.
Counter Terrorism Police have confirmed that a 29-year-old man has been arrested on terrorism-related charges after a woman was stabbed outside a leisure center in Cheltenham last Thursday night.
Officers have until Thursday to question him.
Southeast Counter Terrorism Police said the woman sustained “serious injuries”.
“She was taken to hospital for treatment, where she remains in stable condition,” they said.
The Daily Mail reported that the victim, who has not been officially identified, works for US intelligence and had been seconded to GCHQ.
GCHQ declined to comment on the claims.
Counter-terrorism police said they could neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
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The woman was reportedly in a car in the community center parking lot when the suspect attacked her.
It happened just three miles from the sprawling donut-shaped complex where GCHQ is based.
The stabbing was initially treated as attempted murder before the suspect was re-arrested under anti-terrorism legislation.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone, of Gloucestershire Police, said: “I would like to reassure those who live locally or are visiting the county that we believe this was an isolated incident and are unaware of any wider threat to members of the public.We are working closely with our partners in counterterrorism policing.
“We appreciate that an incident of this nature could be worrying and we encourage people to contact us via 101 with any additional information they may have about the incident.”
