Fury as dozens Afghans who helped Britain in danger after SECOND data breach by military officials

Fury as dozens more Afghans who helped Britain are in danger after a SECOND data breach by military officials

  • Dozens more brave Afghans are in danger after a second data breach by officials
  • Earlier this month the Ministry of Defence failed to use blind copy in an email
  • Latest breach, to 55 recipients, is likely to include interpreters who helped UK


Dozens more brave Afghans who helped the UK are facing fresh danger after a second data breach by bungling military officials.

In another shocking gaffe, it emerged that earlier this month the Ministry of Defence mistakenly copied 55 people into a message with their email addresses visible to all recipients.

It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was forced to apologise on Tuesday after more than 250 interpreters hiding from the Taliban were affected by the same blunder.

In the latest breach, recipients – likely to include interpreters as well as at least one member of the Afghan National Army – were told UK relocation officials had been unable to contact them and were asked to update their details, it was reported.

Dozens more Afghans in danger after it emerged that there was a second data breach by military officials following Defence Secretary Ben Wallace apology on Tuesday (pictured) after more than 250 interpreters hiding from the Taliban were affected by the same blunder

The unnamed official failed to use ‘blind copy’ – the email feature that stops recipients of a group email seeing who else it had been copied to.

Defence sources told the BBC that Mr Wallace did not know about this second breach when he spoke in the Commons on Tuesday. 

It is understood the recipients were all eligible for the Afghan relocation programme which was established in April to help Afghans whose lives were at risk from the Taliban because they had worked for the British.

The Daily Mail has been at the forefront of calling for such loyal Afghans to be given sanctuary in the UK.

In the latest breach, recipients ¿ likely to include interpreters (pictured) who helped the UK ¿ were told UK relocation officials had been unable to contact them and were asked to update their details, it was reported

In the latest breach, recipients – likely to include interpreters (pictured) who helped the UK – were told UK relocation officials had been unable to contact them and were asked to update their details, it was reported

Mr Wallace told the Commons that the Government was working to provide security advice to those affected by the first breach.

Responding to an urgent question, he said: ‘The Minister for the Armed Forces is in the region speaking to neighbouring countries to see what more we can do with both third countries and in-country applicants.

‘It is an unacceptable level of service that has let down the thousands of members of the armed forces and veterans. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I apologise.’

An MoD spokesman said: ‘We have been made aware of a data breach that occurred earlier this month by the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy team. Steps have now been taken to ensure this does not happen in the future.’

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