UK: “sensitive” Defense Ministry documents found at bus stop

The UK Defense Ministry reported Sunday that it launched an investigation following the discovery of “sensitive” documents, according to the BBC, at a bus stop, some of which referred to the recent passage of a military vessel off the Crimean coast. 

“The Ministry of Defense was informed of an incident in which a private individual found sensitive documents related to the defense”, said a spokesman, specifying that the loss had been reported by an employee.

“The ministry takes information security very seriously and an investigation was launched,” he added.

According to the BBC, these classified documents, totaling 50 pages – which included emails and PowerPoint presentations – were found on Tuesday morning behind a bus stop in Kent (southern England).

Some made reference to a possible British military presence in Afghanistan after the departure of international forces. Others to the possible reaction of Russia to the passage on Wednesday of a Royal Navy ship, the “HMS Defender”, In the Black Sea, off the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.

The Russian army claimed that it had fired warning shots at the British destroyer. For its part, the British government denied it, referring to Russian “shooting exercises” and “an innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters.”

According to the documents, a possible aggressive response from Russia had been anticipated.