Inquiry into allegations of extrajudicial killings of British soldiers in Afghanistan begins

Judge Charles Haddon-Cave, who has launched an independent inquiry into allegations that British SAS units extrajudicially executed more than 50 people in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, made a statement to the press at the start of the inquiry.

Judge Haddon-Cave called for anyone with evidence to come forward regarding the course of the inquiry, stating that the inquiry was critical to “restoring the dignity of the army and the country”.

The lead judge stressed that the allegations in the investigation were “extremely serious” but were merely allegations at this stage.

The independent inquiry will also determine whether the alleged extrajudicial killings have been covered up at any stage and what lessons can be drawn from them.

The British Ministry of Defense announced that an investigation would be launched in December 2022 after allegations that SAS soldiers killed at least 54 people in Afghanistan under suspicious circumstances were reported in the media.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In an investigation by the British broadcaster BBC, it was claimed that British troops killed more than 50 unarmed people in detention in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

The BBC’s “Panorama” programme, in an episode it published last year, examined military documents on British Army SAS operations and claimed that the SAS fleet included numerous “kill and capture” raids on Helmand in November 2011.

The BBC investigation claimed that the emails “showed that senior special forces officers were aware of concerns about possible unlawful killings, but failed to report these suspicions to military police despite the legal mandate.”

The investigation suggested that one unit may have killed 54 unarmed people in custody during a 6-month mission.

The British Ministry of Defense denied the allegations in a statement on the subject.