British troops investigated for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan
22 September
More than a decade after the first UK troops were deployed to the country, the Daily Telegraph has revealed that an independent police unit has been set up to examine allegations of war crimes.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"So far, criminal investigations into British soldiers have focused mainly upon their actions in Iraq," says the paper. "But new figures show that [there are] more than 550 historic allegations of war crimes."
One claim involves a Taliban bombmaker who alleges his 106-day detention was illegal and that he was assaulted by soldiers. In their defence, army officials argued he posed a serious risk and would make explosives designed to kill UK troops if released.
The prospect of prosecuting Afghanistan veterans "will cause further alarm and distress for those already feeling betrayed over their treatment in Iraq", says the paper.
Operation Northmoor is reportedly being staffed by up to 124 Royal Military Police officers and has been given an extra £7.5m in funding from government.
"It raises concerns that British soldiers are being pursued by lawyers for simply doing their job out in the field of combat," the International Business Times reports.
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former army captain who served in Afghanistan, reacted angrily to the news, saying it was "physically painful to watch, yet alone be part of".
He added: "We are now prosecuting these same soldiers who we were asking to fire only when fired upon, to use the most minimal force necessary to preserve life, to bear huge personal risk of violent death and injury whilst fighting a violent insurgency on the government's behalf."
-
Political cartoons for February 11Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include erasing Epstein, the national debt, and disease on demand
-
The Week contest: Lubricant larcenyPuzzles and Quizzes
-
Can the UK take any more rain?Today’s Big Question An Atlantic jet stream is ‘stuck’ over British skies, leading to ‘biblical’ downpours and more than 40 consecutive days of rain in some areas
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
-
Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
