A British Special Forces unit had a ‘golden pass allowing them to get away with murder’, a former senior military officer told a public inquiry.
The claim has emerged in documents released from closed sessions of the Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan which is investigating allegations of historic war crimes.
The High Court has heard evidence that as many as 80 Taliban suspects were executed in custody by UK soldiers in Helmand Province from 2010 to 2013.
In newly-released court papers, a whistleblower from a Special Forces unit described his concerns about the activities of British troops.
When asked by legal counsel why there were so many suspicious shootings, he suggested United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) seemed ‘beyond reproach’.
The witness, who for security reasons is identified only by the cypher ‘N2107’, added it was as if Special Forces had ‘a golden pass allowing them to get away with murder’.
N2107 raised concerns in 2011 after finding it difficult to believe summaries of shooting incidents provided by those who were involved.
He told how he struggled to conceive how the number of Enemy Killed in Action (EKIA) was much higher than the numbers of weapons recovered by British troops.
A British Special Forces unit had a ‘golden pass allowing them to get away with murder’, a former senior military officer told a public inquiry (file image)
The High Court has heard evidence that as many as 80 Taliban suspects were executed in custody by UK soldiers in Helmand Province from 2010 to 2013 (file image)
His evidence was heard in closed sessions of the inquiry which is being led by a senior judge, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave.
The inquiry was commissioned by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in 2022.
Another witness told the court he thought ‘on at least some operations’ a British unit ‘was carrying out murders’.
One method was apparently to put a pillow over the head of a captive Afghan before shooting them with a pistol. Some alleged victims were aged 16 or younger.
It also emerged in the documents how a particular witness objected to the presence of certain Ministry of Defence representatives in the court room.
Witness N1799 requested a list of everyone present at the High Court and objected to three names, including that of a senior general.
Lord Justice Haddon-Cave ruled these individuals should not be present, so N1799 would feel more comfortable giving evidence.
A gist of proceedings released by the court said the witness had ‘indicated concerns for his personal safety and wellbeing’.
British Special Forces units are suspected of conducting extra-judicial killings in a bid to eliminate Taliban bombmakers (file image)
The inquiry into the suspicious killings is expected to report either later this year or early next year.
British Special Forces units are suspected of conducting extra-judicial killings in a bid to eliminate Taliban bombmakers.
More than 100 British troops were either killed or wounded by Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted in Helmand Province.
Another factor behind the apparent ‘shoot to kill’ policy was the absence of any effective court or prison system.
This meant Taliban suspects seized by UK forces would be freed from custody within days.
The court has heard this led to UK Special Forces units adopting a policy of killing all the ‘fighting age males’ they encountered, regardless of whether they were armed.
They allegedly placed weapons beside the bodies of the Afghans they killed, so it appeared they had posed a threat.
Witness N1799 said they feared for their personal wellbeing after making an allegation against Special Forces, adding: ‘I still do now.’
N1799 also admitted he was concerned he would be perceived by former colleagues as a ‘traitor’.
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