Attorney General wins bid to block BBC identifying 'MI5 informant'

The Attorney General has won a bid to block the broadcast of a BBC programme that could identify a "dangerous extremist and misogynist" who is allegedly an informant for MI5.

Suella Braverman sought the injunction to block a planned broadcast that would identify the man, referred to throughout as X. He argued that identifying the man would damage national security and create "a real and immediate risk of serious or life-threatening harm" to him.

It means the BBC can still run their programme but they must not identify the alleged informant. In a ruling on Thursday (April 7) Mr Justice Chamberlain said: “In my judgment, the Attorney is more likely than not to succeed at trial in establishing that the balance of public and private interests favours the grant of relief prohibiting the BBC from disclosing X’s name and image.”

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The judge added: "The information about X’s identity, in the context of the allegation that he is a Chis [covert human intelligence source] who works or worked for MI5, is – as the BBC accepts – confidential."

He added: “The Attorney has satisfied me that, if it were to become publicly or widely known, there would be a real and immediate risk that X would be killed or seriously injured.

“In order to address that risk, extensive protective measures would have to be, and would be, taken.

“As a result of those measures, public disclosure of X’s identity would have no significant protective effect on women considering entering into a relationship or liaison with X.

“Whilst including X’s name and image would make the BBC’s story more engaging and potentially more attractive to a wider audience, this would come at the