A massive data breach by the Ministry of Defence has put the lives of around 20,000 Afghan nationals as well as their families “at risk of serious violence”, it can be revealed.
Details about the blunder can finally be made public after a judge lifted a super injunction that had been sought by the government.
Barings Law accused the Ministry of Defence of trying to hide the truth from the public.
As well as the human cost, the scandal will likely leave the British government – and taxpayers – liable for large sums of money in compensation and support to those affected.
The government is expected to make a statement to parliament imminently.
The disaster is thought to have been triggered by the careless handling of an email that contained a list of the names and other details of around 20,000 Afghan nationals, who had been trying to apply to a British government scheme to support those who helped or worked with UK forces in Afghanistan that were fighting the Taliban between 2001 and 2021.
The collapse of the western-backed Afghan government that year, saw the Taliban return to power. The new government regards anyone who worked with British or other foreign forces during the previous two decades as a traitor.
The source said a small number of people named on the list are known to have subsequently been killed though it is not clear if this was a direct result of the data breach.
It is also not clear whether the Taliban has the list – only that the Ministry of Defence lost control of the information.
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This story originally appeared on Skynews
