UK secretly resettled thousands of Afghans after major data leak raised safety fears | Euronews
Thousands of Afghans who helped British forces in Afghanistan were quietly brought to the UK after a government data leak put their lives in danger, officials revealed this week.
Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament that around 4,500 people are already in Britain or on their way under a secret resettlement program called the Afghan Response Route. The move comes after an accidental leak in 2022 exposed the personal details of over 33,000 Afghans, leaving them vulnerable to Taliban retaliation.
What Happened?
In 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) mistakenly shared sensitive information—including names and contact details—of Afghans who had worked with British troops. The breach wasn’t discovered until August 2023, when part of the leaked data appeared on Facebook.
A court initially kept the scandal hidden under a superinjunction (a legal gag order) over fears that public knowledge could lead to Taliban attacks. But this week, the injunction was lifted, revealing the full scale of the crisis.
How Many People Were Affected?
- 16,000+ Afghans have already been relocated to the UK.
- Up to 20,000 more may need to be moved, costing billions of pounds.
- Another 36,000 Afghans came to Britain through other resettlement programs.
Government Apologizes, But Questions Remain
Healey called the leak “unacceptable” and apologized, saying it “should never have happened.” The Afghan Response Route is now closed, but lawsuits from affected individuals are still pending.
The UK initially sent troops to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks as part of the US-led “War on Terror.” At its peak, nearly 10,000 British soldiers were stationed there.
What’s Next?
The new Labour government is reviewing the incident, but with Afghanistan still under Taliban control, the safety of those left behind remains uncertain.
#AfghanCrisis #UKImmigration #DataLeak #TalibanThreat #RefugeeSupport