How nearly 20,000 Afghans were secretly relocated to the UK after a major data leak

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) admitted that a serving member of the UK Special Forces mistakenly sent a classified list of names and contact details to the wrong people.

The email included information about 18,714 Afghan nationals and their family members, many of whom had supported UK military and intelligence missions during the war in Afghanistan.

Some of the people named in the leak have since been killed, tortured or attacked in Afghanistan, according to reports, while others continue to live in fear.

The leaked data, which also included details of their UK sponsors such as MI6 officers and a Royal Marine Major General, was later published online by a rejected applicant.

For almost three years, the MoD kept the breach secret using a court order, but the information was finally made public this week.

The MoD has now begun contacting those affected.

Most of the Afghans on the list would not have qualified for UK relocation under the original Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (ARAP), but because their details were leaked, they now have a valid case for protection under British law, leading to one of the UK’s biggest emergency relocation efforts.

Many were flown into Britain under Operation Rubific and housed in temporary accommodation, including Ministry of Defence housing and hotels.

The UK has already spent an estimated £400 million on the relocation, including £100 million in compensation, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.

But government insiders estimate the lifetime cost of supporting the 20,000 Afghans and their families could rise to £7 billion, especially if victims decide to sue the government for exposing them to danger.

Despite growing pressure, Defence Secretary Healey said the Afghans were already included in regular migration figures and offered a public apology for the blunder.