A UK High Court injunction blocking publication of a former SAS soldier's account of his role in a counter-terrorism operation has been extended following an application by the Ministry of Defence. The restriction on releasing the book within Britain will remain in place until the government's legal action against the soldier concludes.
The soldier, identified only by the pseudonym Christian Craighead, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross—a decoration second only to the Victoria Cross—for his actions during an al-Shabaab attack on a hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. The assault resulted in 21 deaths. Craighead asserts that he rescued more than 700 people from the building during the armed militants' assault.
The MoD contends that Craighead's manuscript violates a confidentiality agreement he signed upon joining the UK's special forces. The MoD secured the injunction last week, stopping UK release of the book and newspaper interviews in Britain. An interim injunction was issued earlier this month, with government barristers returning to the High Court on Thursday to request its extension until the dispute is resolved.
What does the MoD's legal argument claim?
The government's case rests on the assertion that Craighead freely entered into a binding confidentiality contract. Oliver Sanders KC, representing the MoD, told the London court that the claim of breach was "straightforward and really unarguable". He emphasised that Craighead would not have served in the special forces without signing the agreement, and therefore would never have been in Nairobi or had access to the training, equipment, weapons and support that enabled his actions.
The confidentiality contract required Craighead to give a "solemn undertaking binding me for the rest of my life" not to disclose information relating to his special forces service without "express prior authority in writing" from the MoD—permission that has not been granted for the book.
What has the judge decided?
Mr Justice Saini extended the injunction, finding that Craighead "willingly entered into" the contractual obligation and was "clearly and consistently told by his superiors" that publication would not be permitted. The judge concluded the MoD had an "overwhelming case for an injunction" and that Craighead had committed a "flagrant breach" of the contract, done "having his eyes open to the potential consequences".
However, the judge refused the MoD's request to preserve Craighead's profits or any advance payment, despite granting the injunction. The American publishing deal was reported to be worth £160,000.
Why is the book already available in the United States?
The memoir has been published in the US, but Sanders argued this fact was irrelevant to the UK proceedings. He told the court that
the only reason it is available overseas is through the defendant's own wrongdoing. The injunction applies only to UK publication and distribution, not to sales or availability in other jurisdictions.
What is Craighead's background?
Craighead joined the armed forces in 1992 and served in the special forces from 2006 to 2020. Upon joining the special forces, he signed an agreement preventing disclosure of information about his time in the SAS. The contract bound him for life unless he obtained written authorisation from the MoD to reveal details of his service.
Has Craighead challenged this decision before?
Yes. Craighead lost a judicial review challenge against the MoD in 2023 after the department refused to permit publication, citing national security concerns. That earlier court decision upheld the government's refusal on security grounds, establishing a precedent for the current injunction proceedings.
What happens next?
A further High Court hearing has been scheduled for 24 September 2026, at which the substantive legal claim will be heard. Craighead did not appear in court during the injunction hearing and was not represented by legal counsel.
The case reflects broader tensions over special forces personnel publishing accounts of their service. The MoD maintains strict controls over disclosure of operational details, training methods and intelligence-related information by former and serving military personnel, enforced through contractual confidentiality obligations that bind individuals throughout their lives.
