Evidence of UK war crimes in Afghanistan suppressed, inquiry hears | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Deliberate Detention Operations: Military jargon for fast-moving, kinetic night raids conducted by special forces, primarily the SAS, to detain Taliban targets.
• Public Inquiry: A formal investigation, often judge-led, into matters of public concern, with both open and closed hearings.
• Royal Military Police (RMP): The service police of the British Army, responsible for investigating criminal offenses committed by military personnel.
• Director Special Forces (DSF): The most senior officer commanding UK special forces, including the SAS and SBS.
• Anonymity: The state of being unknown or unacknowledged, often granted in legal proceedings to protect individuals.
• Suppressed Evidence: The act of withholding or concealing evidence, particularly in a legal or investigative context.

Allegations of War Crimes by SAS in Afghanistan and Inquiry

This report examines serious allegations that two former British Special Forces chiefs suppressed evidence of possible war crimes committed by the SAS in Afghanistan. These claims were made by a former high-ranking officer in closed evidence at a public inquiry.

Background of Operations in Afghanistan

The allegations date back to approximately 2010, during the protracted conflict with the Taliban in Helmand Province. British special forces, primarily the SAS, were supporting the regular British army's mission. Their main activity involved conducting "deliberate detention operations," which are described as fast-moving, kinetic, and often violent night raids. These operations targeted Taliban members, including bomb makers and those planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). These raids frequently resulted in fatalities and are the operations now under scrutiny in a public inquiry.

The Public Inquiry

The public inquiry was announced in autumn 2022, following a series of BBC Panorama reports. These reports alleged that the SAS had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances during a single six-month tour. A subsequent in-depth report detailed a specific raid in 2012 where the SAS killed two parents and gravely wounded their two infant sons. This raid had not been reported by special forces to the military police. The inquiry is a judge-led, full-blown investigation with both open hearings in the High Court in London and closed hearings for former special forces members seeking anonymity.

Specific Allegations Against Former Special Forces Chiefs

The underlying allegations, previously reported, include the SAS killing detainees and unarmed civilians, including children, during night operations. A particularly troubling tactic involved taking detainees back into a building under the pretense of searching, only to kill them despite them being detained. Operational reports often cited detainees reaching for weapons behind curtains, which raised red flags in London due to their unusual nature and deviation from known Taliban tactics.

The new allegations, revealed through closed-door testimony, state that a former very senior member of UK Special Forces, based in London, claims these allegations were known in detail by two former Directors of Special Forces (DSFs). This anonymous officer, who had operational experience in the field, testified that he briefed one DSF in detail about the troubling allegations and statistics. He also stated that the subsequent DSF was aware of these allegations. Crucially, neither of these DSFs reported the allegations to the Royal Military Police (RMP).

Under British law, commanding officers are obligated to report potential serious offenses committed by their subordinates to the RMP. The anonymous officer alleges that instead of reporting to the RMP, the DSF commissioned an internal special forces review. This review was framed as addressing tactical errors rather than unlawful killings. The anonymous officer described this review as a "copout" and a "warning shot" to the SAS to reduce violence, effectively suppressing accountability. He stated he presented this evidence in 2011 with the expectation that it would be reported to the RMP, which did not happen.

Responses to the Allegations

The BBC approached the two former Directors of Special Forces involved. One declined to comment. The other stated that the allegations had been refuted and that he would address them specifically when giving his own evidence to the inquiry.

Conclusion

The public inquiry is investigating serious claims of suppressed evidence regarding potential war crimes by the SAS in Afghanistan. The testimony of a former senior special forces officer suggests that the highest levels of command were aware of these allegations but allegedly chose internal reviews over reporting to the military police, thereby potentially hindering accountability. The inquiry's findings will be crucial in determining the truth of these allegations and their implications for the SAS and British military conduct.