By SABRINA MILLER

Published: 00:21 GMT, 15 February 2025 | Updated: 00:22 GMT, 15 February 2025

A ‘disgraceful’ leak from within the Metropolitan Police has put the lives of Iranian dissidents in Britain at risk, it is claimed.

A civilian contractor inside the force allegedly posted a photograph of a police field report on social media.

A man has since been arrested by police on suspicion of computer misuse offences.

The file was allegedly photographed on a computer screen and shared on X last year. It contained the personal details of three men – Niyak Ghorbani, 38, Mahyar Tousi, 36, and Mark Birckbeck – who attended a pro-Palestine protest on November 30.

The Mail is choosing not to report details of the leak so as not to further endanger the victims.

Shortly after the data breach, a member of Mr Ghorbani’s family was detained in Iran and interrogated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His brother’s passport was also confiscated.

Speaking to the Mail, Mr Ghorbani, an exiled activist opposed to the IRGC, said: ‘The Islamic Republic has been seeking my arrest and forced return to Iran for years. I have been repeatedly subject to death threats in the UK.

‘Unfortunately, in the UK my personal details have been leaked. It is truly disgraceful.’

An IT leak at the Metropolitan Police saw details posted online of three Iranian dissidents: Niyak Ghorbani, 38, Mahyar Tousi, 36 (pictured) and Mark Birckbeck

Niyak Ghorbani (pictured) said he had repeatedly been the subject of death threats within the UK

Niyak Ghorbani (pictured) said he had repeatedly been the subject of death threats within the UK

Mr Ghorbani said the Islamic Republic has been seeking his arrest and forced return to Iran

Mr Ghorbani said the Islamic Republic has been seeking his arrest and forced return to Iran

And Mr Tousi, an exiled Iranian and independent journalist, added: ‘My mother escaped Iran to be safe from Islamists.

‘Not only do we have to deal with them here, but the Met Police fail to protect us. In fact, with this leak, the Met have put our lives in danger even further.

‘The report accused me of “antagonising” the Palestinian protesters when in reality, my livestream report on my channel shows I was only reporting. The police’s negligence has made me lose trust in the institution.’

Mr Tousi has previously received death threats. He added that his father – who lives in Tehran – has been forced to ‘go into hiding even more’ following the data breach.

Mr Tousi, an exiled Iranian and independent journalist, said the Met had endangered his life further following the leak

Mr Tousi, an exiled Iranian and independent journalist, said the Met had endangered his life further following the leak

Mr Ghorbani and Mr Tousi have lodged a formal complaint with the Metropolitan Police.

British-born Mark Birckbeck, a leading member of Our Fight UK, a group campaigning against anti-Semitism and in solidarity with Israel, is also planning to make a complaint.

A Met Police spokesman said: ‘It is hugely regrettable that information obtained from internal police systems was shared online.

‘A civilian contractor working for the Met was arrested on suspicion of computer misuse offences within days. He has been bailed while the investigation into him continues.’

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Metropolitan Police ‘has put lives of Iranian dissidents at risk’ after staff member posts personal details of three men online

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