SAS Personnel Refuse to Answer Afghanistan Killing Inquiry

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, the judge leading a statutory inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan, revealed that a high proportion of Special Air Service (SAS) personnel have refused to answer questions. These personnel, linked to deliberate detention operations, are citing their privilege against self-incrimination to avoid providing evidence.

The inquiry is investigating allegations that an SAS unit killed 54 Afghans in suspicious circumstances in Helmand province between 2010 and 2011. The probe seeks to determine if these actions constituted war crimes and is examining claims of a cover-up involving inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police.

Recent developments include the discovery of 10,000 high-resolution photos from the operations that were omitted from previous military police inquiries. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting some personnel may have committed serious offences under the Armed Forces Act 2006.