The identities of more than 100 British officials, including members of the special forces and MI6, were compromised in a data breach that also put thousands of Afghans at risk of reprisal, it can be reported. The latest fallout from the breach was kept secret by an injunction until Thursday, when the order was lifted in part by a High Court judge.

British spies, special forces soldiers and senior military personnel were among the tens of thousands of people potentially put at risk by the catastrophic Afghan data leak, The Independent understands.

The government said that information about 18,000 Afghans was accidentally revealed in 2022. A legal order had prevented any reporting on the subject.