Brits accused of torture

last updated 8 January 2015

London

The British military is investigating whether its troops committed war crimes in Iraq, after one soldier developed photos showing naked Iraqi prisoners being forced to simulate sex acts. One of the photos showed a terrified prisoner tied up in a net, hanging from a forklift, while a British soldier stood by laughing. Gary Bartlam, 18, was detained when he showed up to pick up his prints at the photo shop, where an appalled worker had called police. Bartlam is a member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which served in Basra. His is the second high-profile case of possible British military misconduct. Last week, Col. Tim Collins, who inspired his troops with a stirring prewar speech, was accused of pistol-whipping and kicking Iraqi civilians and prisoners of war.