The UK secretly relocated thousands of vulnerable Afghans after their personal data leaked online, exposing them to Taliban reprisals. This major security breach forced the previous government into urgent action, newly revealed court documents show.
Secret Scheme Revealed
The Ministry of Defence leaked highly sensitive information in early 2022. This data, including names and details of Afghans seeking UK relocation, appeared on Facebook later that year. Affected individuals immediately faced Taliban threats.
Consequently, the former Conservative government launched a clandestine relocation program after Ministers feared the Taliban would target those named in the leak. This program remained hidden under a strict court-ordered “superinjunction” until Tuesday.
Defence Secretary John Healey publicly apologised for the breach on Tuesday. “This serious data incident should never have happened,” Healey told Parliament. He extended a “sincere apology” to all affected individuals, including MPs and military personnel named in the files.
The incident ranks among Britain’s worst security breaches. Thousands of lives faced extreme risk, particularly Afghans who supported British forces before the 2021 withdrawal. The relocation scheme has cost taxpayers approximately £400 million so far. It relocated around 4,500 Afghans and their families, Healey confirmed.
Political Repercussions
A Ministry of Defence review summary, also published Tuesday, stated over 16,000 affected people reached the UK by May 2024. Some used existing schemes. The leaked dataset contained information on nearly 19,000 applicants and families; a High Court summary cited over 33,000 affected individuals.
The government secured the superinjection in 2023. Officials argued public disclosure could trigger Taliban killings. Now, the government faces lawsuits from breach victims. These cases will add significantly to the final cost.
Meanwhile, the new Labour government, elected in July, has launched its own review. Healey stated no further Afghans will receive asylum solely due to the leak. A review found little evidence of a Taliban revenge campaign against former officials.
This revelation surfaces amidst tight UK public finances and rising support for the anti-immigration Reform UK party. British forces originally deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks.
