An ex-SAS hero who was gagged after writing a book about how he single-handedly defeated an armed gang of jihadist terrorists during a hotel siege has released a children's novel instead.
Sergeant Christian Craighead risked his life to save dozens of civilians trapped in the luxury Dusit D2 hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, four years ago.
His exploits in 2019 were captured on live TV as he led a counter-attack, sprinting in and out of the holiday complex armed with an assault rifle, pistol and combat knife as he led terrified guests to safety.
The 19-hour siege by Somali gunmen together with the terrorist group al-Shabaab left 21 people dead. Christian was later awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his bravery, but was not allowed to discuss this in a memoir or speaking engagement by the Ministry of Defense.
Now the SAS man has written a children's book instead, The Wrong Wolf. He wrote on Instagram: 'It's not the book you're all waiting for, but I'm still very proud of it.'
Sergeant Christian Craighead was gagged after writing a book about his exploits in Kenya in 2019. Instead, he is now publishing a children's novel
Craighead (pictured far right after the incident) wanted to publish his account of the day five terrorists stormed the Dusit D2 hotel complex in Nairobi in January 2019, killing 21 people
Chris Craighead led terrified guests to safety after storming the hotel building in Kenya
Craighead was in Kenya with the SAS training local troops and was relaxing off duty when the siege took place. The soldier of the elite regiment – whose motto is Who dares wins – seized the initiative and went to the stage dressed in jeans and a casual shirt.
He donned a camouflage flak jacket and a balaclava and stormed the building, armed only with an assault rifle, a Glock pistol and a combat knife, and led a counterattack in which he almost single-handedly defeated the jihadists.
News footage showed the soldier escorting hostages out of the hotel before sprinting back inside.
Craighead's book, The Wrong Wolf, comes after the Ministry of Defense silenced him for writing a memoir about his exploits in Africa
The bloody siege left 21 people dead, including British charity worker Luke Potter. But the death toll would probably have been much higher if Craighead had not intervened.
However, senior officers and Foreign Ministry officials were apparently shocked to see him in action because he had not sought their approval.
Even though every second counted as terrorists moved from room to room executing those inside, it is said they were more concerned about Craighead's intervention embarrassing the Kenyan government.
An SAS soldier previously told the Mail: 'Chris suffered from this for four years. His colleagues said it was fair for what he did. But the hierarchy was baffled.
'They would rather have everyone sit on their hands than get stuck in it. The rules against discussing operations are there for a reason, but this incident is an exception.
'Everyone knows about it, everyone knows what he did. So, what's the problem? The truth is there is an agenda against him.”
Craighead breaks down a hotel door while wearing a camouflage flak jacket and balaclava and armed only with an assault rifle
Craighead and a security officer escort an injured man who was attacked during the terror siege
Craighead filed a legal appeal against a ban imposed by the Secretary of State for Defense, claiming such a move violated his freedom of expression.
But now he is being prevented from releasing the book after the Supreme Court ruled that the ban must remain in place to protect the SAS craft in the interests of national security. The Telegraph.
Ms Justice Steyn said at a closed hearing in the High Court according to The Telegraph: 'He has only been prevented from reporting on an operation, the Dusit incident, in which he was involved as a member of the British Special Forces.
'On the other side of the balance, the interests of the community are reflected in the defendant's evidence.
“Those community interests include protecting lives, safeguarding national security, maintaining the morale and efficiency of UKSF and safeguarding relationships with defense partners.”
'On the evidence before me, the interests of the community substantially outweigh the interest of the claimant in publishing a memoir of the Dusit incident (even if underpinned by the interest of the public in receiving the information he wishes to release, and by the interest of his publisher).'
The book titled 'One Man In: The Explosive Firsthand Account of the Lone Special-Ops Soldier Who Fought Off a Major Terrorist Attack in Kenya' was due to be published this year.
Craighead appeared on Evan Hafer's Black Rifle Coffee Podcast Referring last year and spoke briefly about confidentiality issues.
He said: 'I'm currently working with the Ministry of Defense to do it the right way, to release this book so that there's no sense of information bias or anything like that.
“As far as I'm willing to talk about my life in the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment. I should add that the book is exactly about that one day, so for anyone sitting on the edge of their seat, it is not about what I did while serving in the unit.
“It's just about one thing I did, that we all know I did.”
A soldier (pictured) using the pseudonym Christian Craighead has been silenced after publishing a book about how he defeated Islamic terrorists in Kenya
Craighead was awarded a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a gallantry medal second only to the Victoria Cross, for his response to the gun and grenade attack.
Under strict rules, Special Forces troops are not allowed to discuss their missions in public or attempt to “raise money” from operations.
The rules were introduced following the outcry over books by ex-troopers Chris Ryan and Andy McNab, which dramatically raised the SAS's public profile and led to concerns about Special Forces troops leaking sensitive information that would jeopardize future operations can bring.
Craighead's children's book is 'inspired by episodes from my life' and is written 'from the heart', the retired soldier said on Instagram.
Proceeds from the book, illustrated by American military veteran Matthew Klein, will go to the American armed forces organization Frontline Healing Foundation, which aims to provide support to traumatized soldiers.