Image source, Getty Photography
Image caption, British forces conducting counter-Taliban operations in 2007
Any original allegations referring to the behaviour of the SAS in Afghanistan would possibly be investigated, armed forces minister James Heappey has stated.
“No person in our organisation, no topic how special, gets a bye on the law,” he informed MPs.
Labour find called for a probe into claims an SAS unit repeatedly killed unarmed men and detainees.
In accordance to BBC Panorama, the unit can also find unlawfully killed 54 of us in one six-month tour in Afghanistan.
The BBC realized evidence suggesting the historical head of special forces didn’t pass on evidence to a smash inquiry.
The Ministry of Defence stated it is going to also now now not speak on screech allegations, nonetheless that declining to speak ought to tranquil now now not be taken as acceptance of the allegations’ appropriate accuracy.
An MoD spokesperson stated that British forces “served with braveness and professionalism” in Afghanistan and had been held to the “best seemingly standards”.
Giving evidence to the Commons Defence Committee, Mr Heappey stated: “We had been attentive to some of the allegations that I designate to be in this evening’s Panorama. They’ve been investigated, I feel, twice and on every occasion hasn’t met the evidential threshold.
“But, let’s be definite, if there are unusual allegations, unusual evidence that comes to mild as a of the Panorama investigation and that is then passed to the provider police for extra investigation, we are in a position to totally investigate it.
“No person in our organisation, no topic how special, gets a bye on the law – and that is the explanation that.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has but to speak on the allegations.
In a while Tuesday, an MoD spokesperson stated the Royal Defense pressure Police has written to Panorama and varied media organisations soliciting for any unusual area topic so it is going to even be reviewed.
The BBC stated it would possibly most likely presumably steal with the defense pressure police and thought of as all requests for un-broadcast area topic in step with its editorial guidelines.
British special forces killed a lot of of of us on evening raids in Afghanistan, nonetheless had been some of the shootings executions? BBC Panorama’s Richard Bilton uncovers unusual evidence and tracks down eyewitnesses.
The BBC understands that General Sir Trace Carleton-Smith, the historical head of UK Special Forces, became briefed referring to the alleged unlawful killings when he became appointed in 2012 nonetheless did now now not pass on the evidence to the Royal Defense pressure Police, even after the RMP started a smash investigation into the SAS squadron.
General Carleton-Smith, who went on to alter into head of the Navy earlier than stepping down supreme month, declined to speak for this epic.
BBC Panorama analysed a lot of of pages of SAS operational accounts, along with stories preserving extra than a dozen “smash or cast off” raids finished by one SAS squadron in Helmand in 2010/11.
Folks who served with the SAS squadron on that deployment informed the BBC they witnessed the SAS operatives smash unarmed of us at some stage in evening raids.
In addition they stated they noticed the operatives the employ of so-called “tumble weapons” – AK-47s planted at a scene to interpret the killing of an unarmed person.
Several of us that served with special forces stated that SAS squadrons had been competing with every varied to rep the most kills, and that the squadron scrutinised by the BBC became trying to achieve the next physique depend than the one it had replaced.
Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey stated: “These unusual allegations are deeply stressful, and such stories cast a unhappy shadow over the ravishing recognition of our British Special Forces.
“We know an identical stories at some stage within the identical length about Australian Special Forces had been confirmed by an just inquiry.
“So the defence secretary must urgently display conceal to Parliament what movement he’ll cast off to check any reality to these claims and any that it is seemingly you’ll presumably well presumably also assume of quilt-up.
“Justice for these affected and the integrity of British forces fighting in but one more country must be secured.”
Labour MP Dan Jarvis, a historical navy predominant who served alongside special forces in Afghanistan, stated: “UK Special Forces personnel are rightly revered all the procedure by the field, nonetheless no-one is above the law.
“Our response to terrorism must be unequivocal, nonetheless it indubitably must constantly be factual. Adhering to the rule of law is what indirectly sets us rather then our adversaries.
“These are extraordinarily severe allegations and undoubtedly warrant an just inquiry. With out the reality, we threat irreparable hurt to the recognition and legitimacy of British forces.”
Chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat, who is bidding to be leader of the Conservative Event and prime minister, stated he had undoubtedly that if there had been any reality to these accusations then the MoD would “kind it out”.
Talking at his leadership open tournament in Westminster, the historical navy officer stated: “Between 2005 and 2009 when I became serving in Afghanistan, I met many unprecedented, brave, sure and brave of us serving our country.
“And I know that at some stage in my time in Afghanistan I neither noticed nor heard any of these accusations and I know that any accusations would possibly be investigated fully by the Ministry of Defence.”
He added that an investigation became “the correct ingredient to beget” to uphold the “values and standards” of the British defense pressure.
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