SAS veteran defies top brass to tell all about his Nairobi terror heroics
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A former SAS soldier banned from publishing a memoir has defied top brass by appearing in a five-hour YouTube interview.
Christian Craighead, 51, was gagged by defence chiefs over his remarkable solo operation against jihadists in Kenya seven years ago.
His memoir cannot be published in Britain and he cannot be interviewed in this country about the terrorist siege in Nairobi in 2019 or any other SAS missions.
But it can be published in the US, where it was released yesterday. The former SAS soldier faces prosecution in the UK over the memoir, titled One Man In.
Ex-Warrant Officer Craighead's conversation with a US podcaster about the memoir was watched more than 800,000 times on YouTube within 24 hours. He used the opportunity to criticise the Ministry of Defence's stance.
Craighead, who had been serving as a liaison officer with Kenyan forces, saved hundreds of lives in Nairobi in January 2019 when jihadists attacked the DustitD2 hotel complex.
He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross before leaving UK forces and moving to the United States.
US President Donald Trump congratulated Craighead personally. He then worked for Mr Trump's security team.
One Man In is banned in Britain as Craighead previously signed a United Kingdom Special Forces confidential contract.
Christian Craighead, 51, was gagged by defence chiefs over his remarkable solo operation against jihadists in Kenya seven years ago
Last night, defence sources told the Daily Mail it would be inappropriate to comment specifically on his case during live legal proceedings. They added the Ministry of Defence regularly assesses the national security implications of different matters.
UK Special Forces troops have been barred from selling memoirs since the furore surrounding Andy McNab and Chris Ryan's Gulf War stories around 30 years ago.
Craighead challenged the ruling, unsuccessfully, in the UK High Court in 2023, selling his medals to pay for legal fees.
Last week, the MoD secured an injunction preventing One Man In being released in this country and any newspapers interviewing Craighead.
The MoD said: 'MoD employees past and present are required to uphold their contractual obligations.
'Any breach is considered on a case-by-case basis and the department reserves the right to take action in accordance with legal advice.'
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