Anne Sacoolas: International arrest notice issued for US official's wife wanted over death of Harry Dunn
The 42-year-old can now be arrested if she leaves America
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The American woman accused of killing teenager Harry Dunn is now wanted internationally after an Interpol red notice was issued for her arrest.
Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, is charged with causing the death of the 19-year-old motorcyclist by dangerous driving.
She claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August last year and was allowed to leave the UK.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, then rejected an extradition request from the UK in January, sparking an international controversy.
Mr Dunn’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, were told about the red notice for Ms Sacoolas in an email from Northamptonshire Police, which stated that “should she leave the USA the wanted circulations should be enacted”.
The teenager’s family is seeking a judicial review into the Foreign Office’s handling of their son’s death, after their lawyer accused Dominic Raab of a “scandalous attempted cover-up of the truth”.
They also want to arrange a meeting with the commander of the US base following claims of “three near-misses” involving its staff since Harry’s death. It has been alleged that Ms Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision with Mr Dunn’s motorcycle.
Senior US officials have so far refused a meeting with the Dunn family, because of their “intention” to sue the American government.
Yael Lempert, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in London, told the family’s MP, Andrea Leadsom, that it would “not be appropriate” to meet with the family “given the strong interest of both countries to ensure proper judicial review”.
However, the head of the UK armed forces, General Sir Nick Carter, has now promised to raise the matter with his US colleagues, telling Mr Dunn’s parents: “I am very supportive of positive engagement between you and the US base commander.”
The US State Department continues to insist that at the time of the accident, and for the duration of her time in the UK, Ms Sacoolas had immunity from criminal jurisdiction.
Additional reporting by Press Association