Summary
A former senior officer has told a public inquiry that UK special forces leaders covered up possible war crimes in Afghanistan. The officer claimed that top commanders knew about and ignored reports of civilian killings by special forces more than 10 years ago.
Key Facts
- A former high-ranking UK officer testified about the cover-up of potential war crimes by special forces in Afghanistan.
- The officer alleged that British military leaders ignored reports that soldiers unlawfully killed civilians.
- The evidence claims commanders knew about these incidents as early as 2011.
- The whistleblower, identified as N1466, submitted evidence pointing to criminal actions by Special Air Service (SAS) troops.
- At least one raid saw nine Afghan men killed with only three weapons recovered.
- Some soldiers allegedly boasted about killing all men of fighting age, regardless of actual threat.
- N1466 eventually reported suspicions to military police but regretted not acting sooner.
- The inquiry is investigating if around 80 Afghan civilians were unlawfully killed between 2010 and 2013.
