Minister tasked with investigating potential SAS crimes in Afghanistan ‘unable’ to disprove cover-up

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A minister repeatedly raised considerations about potential battle crimes dedicated by UK particular forces in Afghanistan with senior figures inside the Ministry of Defence – telling Ben Wallace “something stinks” – and was unable to disprove an alleged cover-up of killings when he investigated.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer was talking to an inquiry into dozens of killings of Afghan civilians by the SAS between 2010 and 2013. He informed the inquiry on Tuesday that he didn’t need to imagine experiences that the elite British troopers had killed unarmed Afghans, however he was “unable” to discover “something to disprove these allegations”.

He mentioned that when he investigated the matter with the senior figures inside UK particular forces (UKSF) they have been “unable to answer basic questions” and he “did not believe them”.

When he was a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence from 2019, Mr Mercer raised considerations about rumours of potential UKSF crimes with the director of judicial engagement coverage with the MoD, Peter Ryan, the chief of defence workers, Nick Carter, and the secretary of state for defence Ben Wallace.

He mentioned that the chief of defence workers and the secretary of defence tasked him with “getting to the bottom of it”.

Mr Mercer informed the impartial investigation he was conscious of allegations towards a particular forces unit, recognized to the inquiry as UKSF1, from way back to 2009.

When he tried to examine the claims throughout his time as a junior minister, he discovered that was a “lack of professional curiosity to get to the bottom of it”.

The director of particular forces and the chief of basic workers additionally assured Mr Mercer that the allegations have been unfaithful, the veterans minister informed the inquiry.

He mentioned the director of particular forces “did not have the professional curiosity that I expected him to have”. He mentioned he grew to become involved about why senior figures inside the MoD couldn’t present proof to disprove the allegations.

Members of UKSF have been accused of killing unarmed Afghans, planting weapons on them, falsifying experiences after which masking up the crimes.

Mr Mercer then informed Mr Wallace that he “did not believe” the director of particular forces and the chief of basic workers, telling him: “Something stinks”.

He added: “I was very clear that there should be something to refute these allegations, just something. The absence of anything is what pricks your conscience.”

Mr Mercer mentioned he was additionally informed that there was no full movement video accessible of sure particular forces operations that have been beneath investigation. This was one thing that was “not plausible” as a result of operations had to be recorded on full movement video, Mr Mercer.

The veterans minister raised his considerations concerning the lack of video data to Mr Wallace and the director of particular forces, the inquiry heard. Mr Wallace “repeatedly told me there was no new evidence”, Mr Mercer added.

The inquiry will look at whether or not particular forces had a coverage of executing males of “fighting age” who posed no menace in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

Afghan households have accused UK particular forces of conducting a “campaign of murder” towards civilians, whereas senior officers and personnel on the MoD “sought to prevent adequate investigation”.

Tessa Gregory, lawyer on behalf of the Afghan households, mentioned: “Today we have learned that, whilst the secretary of state for defence was telling the court in proceedings brought by our clients that there was nothing to see, a serving minister was raising allegations of the gravest nature.

“The bereaved families urge all those with relevant information to come forward to assist the inquiry in ascertaining the truth.”

No costs have been introduced beneath Operation Northmoor – which was arrange in 2014 to look at allegations of executions by particular forces, together with these of youngsters.

An additional RMP investigation, codenamed Operation Cestro, noticed three troopers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, however none of them have been prosecuted.

The inquiry continues.