A United Kingdom Court has extended an order blocking former British soldier Christian Craighead from publishing a book about his role in the 2019 DusitD2 terror attack in Nairobi. The court made this decision following an application by the UK Defence Ministry. The ministry argued that Craighead breached a confidentiality agreement he signed while serving in the British special forces.
Craighead, who was serving in Kenya at the time, responded to the January 15, 2019, attack at the DusitD2 complex on 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi. Al Shabaab militants killed 22 people during the attack. Craighead entered the complex armed with a Special Air Service (SAS)-issued rifle and worked alongside Kenyan security officers to confront the terrorists and evacuate people.
During the operation, Craighead helped rescue more than 700 people trapped inside the building as Kenyan security officers battled the militants. His actions during the attack earned him the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a British military medal awarded to soldiers for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy.
Craighead published a book, One Man In, which details his experiences during the attack and other aspects of his service with the SAS. However, the British Defence Ministry claimed that Craighead had signed a lifelong confidentiality agreement when he joined the special forces, undertaking not to disclose information about his service without written approval.
The British government did not approve the publication of the book in the UK, prompting legal action against Craighead. During the latest hearing, the Defence Ministry lawyer argued that Craighead had knowingly breached the agreement, saying the case was straightforward because he had voluntarily accepted the confidentiality obligations.
The court extended the injunction, finding that Craighead had been clearly informed by his bosses that he would not be permitted to publish the book and that the MoD had a strong case against him. Craighead had previously challenged the ministry’s refusal to approve publication but lost the legal challenge in 2023, with the British government citing national security concerns.
Despite the restrictions in Britain, One Man In has since been published in the United States, where Craighead has also discussed his account of the Nairobi attack publicly. The UK court's decision highlights the tension between Craighead's right to share his story and the British government's concerns about national security.
Key points
- The UK court blocked Christian Craighead from publishing his memoir in the UK due to a confidentiality agreement he signed as a member of the British special forces.
- Craighead was a hero of the 2019 DusitD2 terror attack in Nairobi, helping to rescue over 700 people and earning the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his bravery.
- Despite the UK restrictions, Craighead's book, One Man In, has been published in the United States.
