The judge leading a statutory inquiry into alleged summary killings in Afghanistan has stated that most SAS personnel approached have refused to answer any questions. Lord Justice Haddon-Cave is investigating allegations of more than 50 summary killings by UK special forces soldiers, as well as claims of an alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police.
During a public hearing, Haddon-Cave revealed that numerous rule 9 requests, which are written notices asking for information, were sent to SAS operators linked to the deliberate detention operations (DDOs) central to the allegations. He noted that a high proportion of these personnel have indicated their intention to rely on their privilege against self-incrimination.
The inquiry was established after allegations that 54 Afghans were killed in suspicious circumstances by one SAS unit in Helmand province between 2010 and 2011. The inquiry is tasked with determining if Royal Military Police investigations were conducted properly and effectively, and if there is credible information of numerous killings by British armed forces between 2010 and 2013.
Haddon-Cave also disclosed that the inquiry has obtained around 10,000 high-resolution photos from the DDOs, which do not appear to have been part of Royal Military Police inquiries. The inquiry is seeking evidence from Afghan families who lost loved ones during these operations and has heard extensive witness evidence regarding concerns raised by both UK special forces personnel and others about the conduct of SAS detention operations.
Last week, during a high court hearing, the Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting that UK special forces personnel deployed on some operations under consideration by the inquiry may have committed serious offences under the Armed Forces Act 2006.