# Miles Routledge

Miles Arthur Le-Vesconte Routledge, more commonly known by the nickname Lord Miles, is an English author, YouTuber, and a war tourist. He is known for being a danger tourist in Afghanistan during the Fall of Kabul, and being detained by Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence on a third visit to Afghanistan from 2 March 2023 until October 2023.

## Early life and education

From 2014 to 2018, while attending school, Routledge states he worked part time as a hairdresser. He has claimed to have been briefly homeless in Birmingham.

## 2021 Trip to Afghanistan

In March 2021, he began planning a trip to Afghanistan.
On 13 August 2021, Routledge arrived in Kabul from Turkey, with a return flight scheduled for 19 August. Due to the ongoing Taliban offensive the FCDO had advised against all travel to the whole country, and urged British nationals in Afghanistan to leave immediately. Routledge said in an August 14 4chan post that "the intelligence agencies show that the capital may be taken over in 30 days; however not in a few days [...] Also if I get proven wrong and die, edit a laughing soundtrack over my posts. It'll be funny I think."
The city was taken by Taliban forces on 15 August, and Routledge described himself as being "stuck in a pickle"; Routledge's posting about the experience on 4chan, Facebook and Twitch gained attention. He became known by the nickname "Lord Miles" after posting about a £15 lordship certificate he had earlier obtained online, which he had used to get the title "Lord" on a credit card (despite not being a member of British nobility) after he "talked a good game" at a bank. Routledge said that he believed the Taliban might see the honorific and believe he was "valuable enough to negotiate an exchange".
In an interview with The Times, he said that he had "accepted death", explaining that "there was no convincing me otherwise and I knew the risks". While some people had started raising money to help him escape the country, Routledge suggested instead that they give to charity; on Facebook, he asked followers to focus their concern on others at risk from the events, including the tour guide who led him to safety (saying that "his only crime is going the extra mile and saving my life, I can never repay him and that saddens me").
By 15 August, Routledge said that the British embassy in Kabul had not responded to his calls or emails, and that he was "fully prepared for death", saying that "this trip has been a test of God. I'm very religious so I believe I'll be looked after"; he later found refuge in a safehouse On 16 August a spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said that it was "aware of this case and [was] attempting to reach the individual to offer assistance". On 17 August, Routledge was evacuated to Dubai.

## 2023 Imprisonment by Taliban

Routledge departed for a third holiday to Afghanistan in late February 2023, and was apprehended by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence on 2 March 2023. The GDI also apprehended volunteer medic Kevin Cornwell and an unidentified hotel manager, both being British citizens. Routledge was released from Taliban custody in October 2023.