Information on local British staff in Kabul 'left behind'

A serious security risk to a number of Afghan citizens: The Times newspaper reported that British embassy staff in Kabul were in too much of a hurry to destroy sensitive documents belonging to local colleagues when they left the premises.

The Times newspaper reported that British Foreign Office staff left behind records of contacts with local colleagues when they left the embassy in Kabul. A spokesman for the Foreign Office told Reuters that the situation in Kabul was so critical that the evacuation was so rapid that there was no time to destroy sensitive documents.

British Deputy Defense Secretary James Hippie had previously said that his country would assist in the departure of 2,275 Afghan citizens who had worked for British institutions.

Currently, about 1,000 British troops, including personnel from the 16th Airborne Brigade, are stationed at Kabul airport. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after the suicide attacks at Kabul airport and a special cabinet meeting, announced that London would continue evacuation flights from Afghanistan.

Before the suicide attacks near Kabul airport, the British government had asked its citizens who were near the site to move to a safe location and await further instructions.

Britain's decision to evacuate 140 dogs, 60 cats, and 68 animal shelter staff on a private charter flight from Kabul had previously made headlines.

Source: DW