British spies and SAS named in Afghan data breach

18/7/2025 6:56

Details of more than 100 British nationals including spies and special forces soldiers were included in one of the country's worst ever data breaches that led to thousands of Afghans being relocated to the UK, British media reported on Thursday.



The leak by the Ministry of Defence in early 2022, which surfaced on Facebook a year later, prompted the relocation of more than 16,000 Afghans to Britain as of May this year amid concerns that they would face deadly reprisals from the Taliban.



The personal information of more than 100 British officials, including spies from the foreign intelligence agency MI6 and special forces such as the SAS (Special Air Service), was included in the data leak, according to BBC News and other outlets.



A spokesperson for the ministry of defence cited its longstanding policy not to comment on matters related to the special forces.