Three British nationals are being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to a humanitarian organisation. The Presidium Network identified one of the men as Kevin Cornwell, 53, from Middlesbrough, a paramedic working for a charity. Scott Richards from the network said Mr Cornwell and another unnamed man were arrested on 11 January, while a third man was detained on a different date.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman confirmed the government is “in negotiations” over the men. Speaking to Sky News, she said: “Anyone travelling to dangerous parts of the world should take the utmost caution… The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people's safety is upheld.” The Foreign Office said it was working to contact the men.
Mr Richards said the detention of the two men appeared to be over a weapon found in a safe in Mr Cornwell’s room, which he said was stored with a licence issued by the Afghan interior ministry. “That license is missing,” he said, adding that witnesses had seen the licence and that the situation was likely a “probable misunderstanding”.
The third man is understood to be Miles Routledge, 23, from Birmingham, who was evacuated from Afghanistan by British forces in August 2021. The former Loughborough University student has previously travelled to dangerous countries and posted about it on social media, describing his interest in “dark” and “extreme” tourism.
Mr Richards told Sky News the men are believed to be in good health and well treated, with no evidence of torture. However, he noted there has been “no meaningful contact” between authorities and the two men his organisation is assisting.
