A British special forces unit (UKSF1) is alleged to have executed Afghan civilians, including minors, during operations between 2010 and 2013, according to evidence presented in a public inquiry and reported by The Daily Telegraph. The whistleblower, identified as N1799, claimed that UKSF1 followed a policy of targeting all males of fighting age, regardless of whether they posed a threat.
N1799 is among seven commanders and soldiers who have recently given evidence to the inquiry, which is investigating the deaths of up to 80 Afghan civilians during an SAS deployment in Helmand during that period.
Allegations of Misconduct
The whistleblower stated that UKSF1 used methods such as suffocating individuals with a pillow before shooting them. Weapons were reportedly planted beside the bodies to create the impression that the individuals were armed. This practice, described in military jargon as using “dropped weapons,” was allegedly referred to by the nickname “Mr Wolf,” after a problem-solving character from the film Pulp Fiction.
In a written statement from March 2011, N1799 claimed: “Fighting-age males were being executed on target, inside compounds, using a variety of methods after they had been restrained. In one case, it was mentioned a pillow was put over the head of an individual before being killed with a pistol.”
Internal Reporting and Response
The allegations were disclosed to a commanding officer from a different special forces unit (UKSF3), who documented the claims and informed the Director of Special Forces (DSF). However, the officer, identified as N1785, did not confront UKSF1, citing concerns that such allegations might be perceived as inter-unit rivalry.
N1785 testified: “Either the [sub-unit] was using ill-advised techniques, which was resulting in people dying who didn’t need to die… or there was illegal activity. What I wanted to press to the DSF is: ‘You need to investigate this one way or another.’”
Broader Inquiry into UKSF Actions
The allegations are part of a public inquiry into potential misconduct by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave. This inquiry was initiated following a 2023 BBC Panorama investigation and aims to determine whether senior officials and military leaders failed to address extrajudicial killings adequately.
Previous investigations under Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro did not lead to prosecutions, despite allegations of misconduct.
Concerns Over Oversight
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer has stated that he raised concerns during his time in government but said those warnings were not acted upon. Afghan families have alleged a broader pattern of improper actions by UK Special Forces, and the inquiry is examining whether oversight mechanisms were sufficient during the Afghanistan operations.
The inquiry continues to assess the extent and nature of any wrongdoing, as well as the processes in place to handle allegations of misconduct.
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