UK court extends ban on former SAS soldier's book about Nairobi counter-terror operation

The High Court in London has extended an injunction preventing a former UK special forces soldier, known only by the pseudonym Christian Craighead, from publishing a book about his role in a counter-terrorism operation. The extension follows an application from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Craighead received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross — one level below the Victoria Cross — for his actions after an al-Shabaab attack on Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019, in which 21 people died. He claims to have saved more than 700 people from a hotel complex targeted by armed militants.

The MoD argues the book breaches a confidentiality contract Craighead freely signed when he joined the special forces. An interim injunction issued earlier this month was extended on Thursday to remain in force until the MoD's underlying legal claim against him is resolved.

Oliver Sanders KC, representing the MoD, told the court the breach claim was "straightforward and really unarguable." He said the book's availability in the US, where it has already been published, was irrelevant, since it is only accessible there because of Craighead's own wrongdoing. Craighead did not appear in court and was not represented.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Saini said Craighead had "willingly entered into" the contractual agreement and had been "clearly and consistently told by his superiors" that publication would not be permitted. The judge said the MoD had an "overwhelming case" for the injunction and that Craighead had committed a "flagrant breach" with full awareness of the consequences.

Craighead previously lost a 2023 legal challenge against the MoD after it refused to allow the book's publication on national security grounds. He joined the armed forces in 1992 and served in the special forces from 2006 to 2020, having signed a lifelong confidentiality undertaking barring disclosure of information about his SAS service without written authorisation.