Who is Christian Craighead?
Chris Craighead was born in the North-East of England and joined the Parachute Regiment as a teenager. He was then chosen for the prestigious Pathfinder Platoon and later went on to join the SAS, where he recently retired.
During his time in the British Army, he participated in various missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was injured while on duty.
He was recognized as a hero in the media for his brave actions during the Al Shabaab attack at the Dusit2 Hotel in Nairobi in 2019. This led to him receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and meeting with President Donald J. Trump.
Kenya Terrorist Siege
In 2019, Christian Craighead had the opportunity to meet with the former US president at the White House. This came only a few months after he bravely intervened during a terror attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya.
Despite being off-duty at the time, the 48-year-old, who had a 28-year career in the military, took action by rescuing hostages and eliminating several terrorists.
In 2020, Christian Craighead shared on his Instagram that he had a chance encounter with Donald Trump in Washington DC. He uploaded a photo of their meeting, stating that Trump had unexpectedly reached out to him while he was in the city and expressed gratitude for his efforts in preserving American lives.
Craighead’s confrontation occurred soon after he left the SAS, amidst rumors that his fellow soldiers were avoiding him and resentful of the recognition he was receiving. This is because SAS principles require them to operate covertly.
The ex-SAS soldier has been making headlines in the past year due to an incident involving an Army dentist who confessed to sharing sexually explicit images and videos of him with her partner as an act of revenge.
Major Jennifer Wilson, aged 42, sent these files to Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, aged 36, and was charged with harassment for allegedly stalking his girlfriend, who happens to be the great-great-great granddaughter of the founder of a popular chocolate bar company, on social media.
The dentist, who serves in the Royal Medical Corps, admitted to sharing the media of Christian Craighead but pleaded not guilty to the charges of stalking and obstructing justice.
The previous accusation was put on hold while the latter was dropped due to lack of evidence presented by the prosecutors. Following this, she was released on bail and awaited a pre-sentencing report, with a potential sentence of two years in jail. Craighead gained recognition for his courageous actions in rescuing hostages during a terrorist attack in Nairobi in 2019.
While supporting the training of Kenya’s security forces, the soldier was present in the country when members of the al-Shabaab terrorist organization assaulted the DusitD2 hotel complex in Nairobi on January 15.
Even though Christian Craighead was not on duty and was shopping at the time, Craighead had his equipment in his vehicle and quickly retrieved it to assist at the complex.
Upon his arrival, Christian Craighead took charge of the entire operation, as confirmed by fellow SAS veteran Chris Ryan. He oversaw the coordination of both the police and the army.
Craighead proceeded to perform a solo assault on the hotel complex, eliminating two militants and rescuing hostages. The attack resulted in the death of 22 people and injuries to 27 others, including British and American victims.
Christian Craighead’s solo mission was broadcasted globally and resulted in him receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), the UK’s second most prestigious military honor. However, it also sparked tension between Craighead and his SAS team members, who are accustomed to working discreetly and often go unacknowledged for their courageous actions.
