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Major Security Breach at UK Ministry of Defence
A significant data leak from the British Ministry of Defence has compromised sensitive information about Afghan nationals who collaborated with UK forces, as well as British intelligence officers and special forces commandos. The incident occurred in 2022 when a confidential spreadsheet containing personal details was accidentally sent to an incorrect email address.
Afghan Allies at Risk
The leaked document contained names and contact information of Afghans seeking relocation to the United Kingdom following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. These individuals had worked alongside British military personnel during the NATO mission in Afghanistan and faced potential retaliation from the new regime.
Secret Evacuation Operation
After nine names from the leaked list appeared on Facebook in 2023, the Conservative government secretly initiated Operation Safe Passage to evacuate vulnerable Afghans. The extensive program, costing over €3 billion, provided transportation and security arrangements for affected individuals.
Scale of Relocation
To date, approximately 4,500 Afghan nationals and their families - totaling 16,000 people - have been resettled in the UK through this program. The British government has now halted further evacuations, claiming the Taliban administration no longer poses a substantial threat to former collaborators.
Media Blacklist Lifted
British media organizations had been prohibited from reporting on either the data breach or evacuation program until this week. A court ruling on Tuesday overturned the reporting ban, enabling public disclosure of the security lapse.
Ministerial Apology
Current Defence Secretary John Healy of the Labour Party issued a formal apology: "This should never have happened. While the breach occurred under the previous administration, I offer sincere apologies to all affected individuals." The incident raises serious concerns about data security protocols within the UK defence establishment.
