London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025

UK govt investigating after classified defence documents left at bus stop, minister apologises for ‘mistake by individual’

UK govt investigating after classified defence documents left at bus stop, minister apologises for ‘mistake by individual’

The UK government is investigating a blunder in which classified Ministry of Defence (MoD) papers were left at a bus stop, a minister has said, adding that a lone civil servant was likely behind the major security breach.
Almost 50 pages of documents were discovered in a “soggy heap” by a member of the public at a bus stop in Kent on Tuesday morning. The finder handed them over to the BBC, the public broadcaster said.

The dossier revealed British military officials’ considerations of Moscow’s potential reaction to London sending the warship HMS Defender through disputed waters off the coast of Crimea on Wednesday.

The papers also reportedly outlined US-UK deliberations over the future of British troops stationed in Afghanistan once NATO operations in that country come to an end.

On Monday, Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin apologised for the security breach and confirmed that the MoD police force was investigating the matter.

“It appears it is a mistake by an individual … I am very sorry this incident has happened. The investigation will be thorough,” Quin told MPs in the House of Commons.

Quin confirmed that UK defence officials had been in touch with their US counterparts over the incident and would keep them updated.

Most of the misplaced documents were classified as “official sensitive”, but Quin said one of the papers was marked “Secret: UK Eyes Only” – one of the highest security classifications used in the UK.

The BBC said it had decided not to report some of the details of this part of the dossier so as not to “endanger the security of British and other personnel in Afghanistan”.

In reference to HMS Defender’s mission near Crimea – called “Op Ditroite” – the MoD reportedly described it as an “innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters”.

On Wednesday, Russian forces demanded the British ship leave waters off Cape Fiolent, near the Crimean city of Sevastopol, before the Russian coast guard fired warning shots at the vessel.

London later denied shots had been fired, before video emerged to back up Moscow’s description of events.

The UK claims Crimea belongs to Ukraine, despite the majority-Russian region returning to Moscow’s administration after a 2014 referendum.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
×