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BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
British forces tests readiness to support NATO allies
Hundreds of paratroopers have been mobilising to practise the UK armed forces' response to an emergency war-like Totemic is a week-long operation testing the country's readiness if called upon to support a NATO ally threatened with operation draws from barracks in Woodbridge in Suffolk, Catterick in North Yorkshire, Larkhill in Wiltshire, Thorney Island in West Sussex, and Cawdor Barracks in Merville Barracks in Colchester provides the largest proportion of troops with more than 750 soldiers and 350 vehicles. This is the first time the Essex base has given media access to the operation, despite it being an annual drill. The 16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army's instant response commander, Brig Ed Cartwright, 46, was at the barracks overseeing the exercise, which he said applied to both combat and humanitarian missions."In this instance... we're deploying elements of the brigade to Estonia to reinforce the first Estonian Brigade in a deterrent role against Russia, so stopping Russia conducting an act of aggression against Estonia."In a real scenario, the brigade would travel to South Cerney, Gloucestershire, from where it would fly to its destination and Cartwright said being "ready" was both a physical and mental thing."It's about having your bags packed, your documentation in order. You've had your your jabs, your inoculations, you've had your dental tests in your medical, you're medically fit to deploy." Maj Aaron Nunkoosing, 37, said: "(The) guys will drop everything, drop what they're doing, wherever they may be."He said the brigade's speed and efficiency was on display during Operation Pitting in 2021, the evacuation from Nunkoosing said he was looking after his son at the time of the call to join the operation."We had to drop everything... put him in a cab with my parents and his stepmother and then that was me on the way to the airport," he said."Twenty-four hours later I was in Afghanistan." L/Cpl Kierin Clark, 28, is in charge of personnel administration."With my job, everybody thinks I'm used to sitting by a computer - I'm not," she said."We are also known as combat clerks as well, so we operate in the field, whether that's by someone's side or sitting in a command post doing who knows what."My step count is around 18,000 a day, so that just shows I'm not just sitting at a computer desk." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
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First Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How data leak compromised nearly 19,000 Afghans leading to their relocation by the UK
A massive 2022 data breach exposed personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans linked to British forces, prompting a covert UK scheme to relocate thousands under Taliban threat. Hidden behind a superinjunction for nearly two years, the secret evacuation cost billions read more British Forces from 16 Air Assault Brigade arrive in Kabul, Afghanistan, to provide support to British nationals leaving the country, as part of Operation PITTING after Taliban took control of the presidential palace in Kabul, August 15, 2021. File Image/UK Ministry of Defence via Reuters A serious data leak by a British defence official in 2022 triggered one of the most secretive and expensive relocation efforts in recent UK history. The breach exposed the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghan nationals and their families who had applied for protection under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), a programme created to support those who had worked with British forces during the UK's military presence in Afghanistan. The error ultimately led to the covert resettlement of thousands of Afghans, cost London billions of pounds, and resulted in an unprecedented legal battle to suppress details from the public for nearly two years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The breach, which occurred in February 2022, involved a defence official working outside authorised government systems. The individual mistakenly sent a full list of ARAP applicants to an unintended recipient while attempting to contact just 150 people. That list, which included names, phone numbers, addresses, and even some UK government email contacts, ultimately reached individuals in Afghanistan. One recipient later threatened in a Facebook group to post the entire database online. It was only in August 2023 that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) became aware of the leak's scale, after part of the data surfaced on Facebook. The breach raised alarm in Whitehall, given the real possibility that the Taliban — who had returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 — could gain access to the list and target those named on it for reprisals. How did the UK govt respond? The severity of the incident prompted then-UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to seek extraordinary legal protections. On September 1, 2023, the High Court granted what is believed to be the first superinjunction ever requested by a UK government. The order prohibited not only the reporting of the data breach but also any mention of the injunction's existence. It was issued 'against the world,' meaning it applied to all individuals, not just specific parties. This move was criticised by several media organisations, but the courts repeatedly upheld the injunction. One High Court judge, while extending the order in February 2024, acknowledged the lack of parliamentary or media scrutiny but accepted the government's argument that disclosure could endanger lives if the Taliban learned of the list. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wallace later defended the government's handling of the situation. Writing in The Telegraph, he stated, 'Some may disagree but imagine if the Taliban had been alerted to the existence of this list. I would dread to think what would have happened.' He insisted that the decision to suppress the story was not a cover-up but an effort to prioritise the safety of those exposed. What is Operation Rubific? Immediately after learning of the leak's extent in August 2023, the MoD launched an urgent internal investigation and began tracing the spread of the data. At the same time, UK officials contacted around 1,800 ARAP applicants who were in Pakistan at the time, warning them of the potential threat to their safety. Facebook was also contacted and asked to remove the relevant post due to the 'risk of physical harm' to those named. In response to the escalating threat, the UK quietly initiated Operation Rubific, a classified effort aimed at extracting Afghans judged to be at highest risk. In December 2023, this was formalised into a secret scheme known as the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR). It was designed specifically to assist individuals affected by the breach who were not eligible under ARAP but whose exposure made them vulnerable to Taliban retaliation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although the ARR initially aimed to help approximately 200 principal applicants and their families, the numbers quickly grew. By July 2024, the scheme had relocated 900 individuals and 3,600 family members. An additional 600 people who had been issued relocation invitations would also be accommodated, UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed in Parliament. What did it cost? Including those relocated through the ARR and other existing schemes, the number of Afghans brought to the UK due to the breach reached more than 16,000 by mid-2025. Overall, the government has resettled more than 56,000 people across various Afghan evacuation and relocation programmes since 2021. The financial implications were equally significant. The ARR alone is projected to cost £850 million, while the broader cost of relocation efforts across all schemes — including existing ARAP applicants — has been estimated between £5.5 billion and £6 billion. According to an unnamed official cited in early reports, the data breach itself may have cost around £2 billion. Healey, speaking in Parliament confirmed that the official responsible for the data leak was 'no longer doing the same job.' He offered a 'sincere apology on behalf of the British government,' a sentiment echoed by other political leaders including Conservative ministers Kemi Badenoch and James Cartlidge. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Were the Afghans at risk from Taliban? In January, the UK Ministry of Defence commissioned Paul Rimmer, a former senior civil servant, to conduct an independent review of the situation. The assessment concluded that while killings and detentions still occur in Afghanistan, there was no clear evidence that the Taliban had obtained the dataset. The report found 'little evidence of intent by the Taliban to conduct a campaign of retribution' based on the breach and noted that the leaked data 'may not have spread nearly as widely as initially feared.' It also questioned the proportionality of the continued ARR scheme, suggesting that the threat may no longer justify its operation. 'The ARR scheme may now be disproportionate to the actual impact of the data loss,' the report noted. Based on these findings, the MoD petitioned the High Court to lift the superinjunction on Tuesday. The ARR scheme was officially closed shortly thereafter. However, the 600 relocation offers previously extended to individuals and their families will still be honoured. Healey reiterated in Parliament, 'When this nation makes a promise, we should keep it.' Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Tiny abandoned UK village where no one can enter without special permission
Stanford, a deserted village and civil parish in Norfolk, was taken over by the British Army during the Second World War and can only be accessed with permission A Norfolk village can only be accessed with special permission from the military. Stanford, an abandoned village and civil parish in the English county, was seized by the British Army during World War II. It was subsequently dubbed the Stanford Battle Area, and to this day, it serves as an active infantry training ground. The village was evacuated and reformed in 1942 to mimic a 'Nazi village', playing a crucial role in the preparations for the D-Day invasion. In 2009, an additional section was incorporated into the Battle Area to train troops set to be deployed in the Afghan war, as previously reported by the Mirror. This section comprises houses, a market, a mosque, and even a system that emits odours such as rotten meat and sewage. The 16 Air Assault Brigade conducts their annual Gryphon exercises there, along with cadets aiming to complete Fieldcraft exercises. Located seven and a half miles north of Thetford and 25 miles southwest of Norwich, the village lies within a restricted area, and visitors must obtain special permission from the Army to enter. Access is primarily limited to a handful of tours throughout the year and on compassionate grounds for former residents or their relatives. Live fire drills are conducted on site, so entering at your own risk could have serious repercussions. Structures like the parish church of All Saints are equipped with blast-proofing sheeting to shield them from military operations. Each of the surviving churches and churchyards in the region is enclosed by wire fencing. Stanford is one of six Norfolk villages unceremoniously abandoned during the Second World War, with villagers promised a return post-war that never happened. West Tofts, Sturston, Langford, Stanford, Buckenham Tofts, and Tottington were all evacuated and have since remained in military hands. Yet, despite continuing as an active military zone known as Stanford Training Area, the 2001 census clocked a tiny population of just eight souls residing within four households over an expansive 5.26 square miles. And still, in 2011 the census data pointed to fewer than 100 inhabitants, leading Stanford to be administratively swallowed up by the civil parish of Croxton. The name 'Stanford' itself harks back to its origins, meaning "stony ford". The village's battle area has even had its brush with fame, serving as a backdrop for select episodes of the beloved comedy series 'Dad's Army'. In more recent memory, the village has been troubled by two significant fires. A calamitous event occurred on August 21, 2005, when five cottages overlooking Church Green became engulfed in flames originating from a dormant chimney fire which ferociously spread throughout their thatched roofs. Another blaze wreaked havoc on July 6, 2013, tearing through the storied walls and upper floors of the local haunt, the Horse and Jockey pub.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British paratroopers asked to show passports during Swedish Nato drill
British paratroopers were asked to show their passports during a Nato drill in Sweden. The troops were on the strategic Baltic island of Gotland this week carrying out exercises as part of Swift Response 2025. But their progress was delayed as the troops were immediately directed to a Border Control van to be processed as Britain is outside the Schengen Area. Lt Col Chris Hitchins told Expressen, a Swedish news outlet: 'So I'm used to border control now. I did it in France last year, as well. 'Sometimes you have a bit of a mental pause, you go through those motions and then I'll put my helmet back on and I'll go into the trees and we'll be back in a tactical scenario.' Troops were carrying out drills including seizing a 'tactical landing zone' from Swedish defenders. The US-led Nato exercise involved 100 British paratroopers dropping from a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M. Speaking after the drill on Tuesday, one soldier told the outlet it had been a 'good, successful jump'. It comes a year after the paratroopers had to undergo passport checks in France during a D-Day event. French officials raised eyebrows by insisting on checking the paperwork of 400 troops landing in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemoration. US and Belgian troops involved in the drop were not checked, leading to accusation that the French were trying to make a point about the UK's decision to leave the EU. Brig Mark Berry, the commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, said at the time: 'It is something we haven't experienced before. 'But given the Royal welcome we have had from every other feature, it seems like a very small price to pay for coming to France.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Military veterans march to fund £200,000 statue
Military veterans are lacing up their marching boots to raise £200,000 for a statue outside a city barracks. The 12ft (3.65m) bronze sculpture of a paratrooper will be installed outside Merville Barracks in Colchester if they reach their funding target. Maj Curt Vines, of the Parachute Regimental Association, said veterans taking on a 25-mile (40km) trek on Sunday would help fundraising efforts. "This statue is going to really resonate with a lot of people," he told the BBC, saying it would celebrate 25 years of 16 Air Assault Brigade being based in the city. The brigade is the British Army's global response force. Maj Vines hoped to unveil the statue, which would consist of a 6ft (1.8m) plinth and a soldier of the same height, on 27 June 2026. Veterans will carry backpacks of no less than 25lbs (11kg) during the fundraising march, which kicks off at 08:00 BST and is expected to take eight hours. The route will take them past sites of military significance in Colchester, including Wivenhoe House - home to an SAS base in World War Two. "We really want to expose and further inform the people of Colchester and wider UK about the impact of the garrison and its history," Maj Vines said. "Over the last 25 years, we have had some amazing times but also some real down times as well and lost lots of loved ones. "Once this statue is in place it really will be a fitting memorial and one we hope will resonate with younger people as well." The statue has been designed by sculptor Amy Goodman and will be illuminated at night. Maj Vines said its prominent location near Abbey Field would ensure it was a "beacon" for the community. "Those lights will be spectacular," he added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Soldiers given AI to help them shoot down drones Armed Forces trial hydrogen charging at bases Monument will harm Roman site say Historic England 16 Air Assault Brigade
