Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has disclosed that a high-profile super-injunction was crucial in preventing the murder of British citizens after a significant Afghan data leak threatened to expose the identities of MI6 agents and Special Forces personnel.
Shapps, who served as Defence Secretary until recently, emphasised that the legal measure was necessary to block the publication of sensitive information that could have endangered lives. The leaked data reportedly contained names of operatives involved in covert missions in Afghanistan.
Why the Super-Injunction Was Critical
The ex-minister explained that revealing the identities of intelligence and military personnel would have made them immediate targets for hostile actors. "This wasn't about covering up mistakes," Shapps stated. "It was about preventing the murder of British servicemen and women."
Sources suggest the injunction was sought after UK authorities became aware that media outlets had obtained documents listing names of serving and former MI6 officers alongside Special Forces members deployed in Afghanistan.
National Security at Stake
Security experts have backed Shapps' claims, noting that such disclosures could compromise ongoing operations and put agents' families at risk. "The consequences would have been catastrophic," one Whitehall insider commented.
The incident highlights growing concerns about data security following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, where sensitive documents were left vulnerable during the chaotic evacuation in 2021.
