UK to launch investigation after breach reveals Afghan interpreters’ information

The U.K. government is launching an investigation after a data breach revealed the identities of Afghan interpreters.

Defense Minister Ben Wallace on Tuesday informed parliament of the investigation and apologized for the mistake, Reuters reported.

“I apologize to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with whom we are now working … to provide security advice,” Wallace said.

Britain’s Afghan Relocations Assistance Policy copied the emails of more than 250 Afghan interpreters, revealing their identities. The office meant to blind-copy the emails.

Wallace said the interpreters were told to change their emails, and intelligence agencies are looking into the risk to their safety after the Taliban takeover, according to Reuters.

Following the Afghanistan evacuation efforts there were 800 to 1,100 Afghan allies left behind and 100 to 150 British citizens, Wallace said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. will “shift heaven and earth” to get the Afghan allies out ,even though all troops have been withdrawn from the country.