Former UK Intelligence Worker Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of American Woman at Cyberespionage Agency

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Image Credit: Ministry of Defence

Former UK intelligence worker, Joshua Bowles, pleaded guilty to attempted murder on Wednesday for stabbing an American woman stationed at Britain’s cyberespionage agency, GCHQ. The incident occurred on March 9 in Cheltenham, a town in western England.

Bowles allegedly punched and stabbed the victim as she left a leisure center, located approximately 3 miles from GCHQ headquarters, after playing netball. The victim, identified in court as number 99230, was treated in a hospital for multiple stab wounds. Bowles also pleaded guilty to assaulting a man who tried to intervene.

Prosecutors revealed that Bowles had worked at GCHQ until late 2022 and began researching the victim online in early 2023. The victim, a United States government employee stationed at GCHQ, is reported to work for the National Security Agency. Bowles targeted her due to his belief that she was a GCHQ worker and had views on the agency’s operations.

Bowles, who resides in Cheltenham, entered his guilty pleas at London’s Central Criminal Court. Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb expressed her intention to sentence him before the end of October.

 

Ryan Scott
Author: Ryan Scott

Just a guy

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