UK Particular Forces are on the coronary heart of an investigation into conflict crimes, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed for the primary time on Wednesday.
This marks a major shift from the MoD’s earlier efforts to maintain particulars of Particular Forces’ alleged involvement in Afghanistan conflict crimes confidential.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace publicly acknowledged the Particular Forces’ involvement within the inquiry in a pre-hearing assertion for the Impartial Inquiry.
He mentioned this revelation solely pertains to the distinctive context of this inquiry and shouldn’t be construed as a change within the authorities’s coverage on commenting about UK Particular Forces’ deployments or actions.
The ministry had beforehand tried to withhold from the general public any proof or documentation that will affirm or deny the alleged involvement of UK Particular Forces within the operations beneath investigation.
Nevertheless, lower than 48 hours earlier than presenting their argument earlier than Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, the inquiry’s chair, the revelation was made.
AOAV, together with the BBC, uncovered proof pointing in direction of a single SAS unit working in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011, which is believed to have killed 54 folks beneath doubtful circumstances.
Extra investigations by the BBC revealed different situations believed to have concerned particular forces.
A judgment on the matter is anticipated later this month, and the listening to is ongoing.