ALLEGATIONS IN AFGHAN EMAILS SHAKE UK DEFENCE MINISTRY

▶ Special forces in spotlight as messages suggest troops were involved in 33 night raid killings

The fallout from reports about the alleged conduct of elite British forces in Afghanistan has sent shock waves through the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Special Air Service Regiment was in the spotlight at the weekend after emails were released that suggested its troops were involved in the killings of 33 Afghans in 11 night raids on homes in 2011.

Officials at the ministry were looking at how government ministers did not know about the emails until Friday, BBC’s

Newsnight programme reported, with officials ready to look into the allegations in full.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was also said to want answers after the High Court ordered the release of the emails in a case brought by law firm Leigh Day.

“The secretary of state is genuinely committed in getting to the bottom of this. He wants to go back to the start in order to understand how this happened,” the ministry said.

“That means speaking to the judicial engagement department, as well as the director of special forces and others to learn why this emerged in court and got his name in the Sunday papers.” Documents seen by the Sunday Times reveal an incident in which it was alleged that a British soldier killed four people in Helmand province on February 16, 2011.

The SAS arrived by helicopter at night in a village called Gawahargin, looking for a bombing suspect.

Women and children were rounded up and troops entered a home where gunshots were heard. A teenager named Saifullah went back to the house and found his father, brothers and cousin shot in the head.

The allegation was passed to the Royal Military Police, which launched an inquiry in 2014.

Investigators found emails between special forces personnel which have been released by the court.

The MoD said it found no evidence to prosecute any soldiers.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Select Committee, told The National that any new evidence should be pursued by investigators.

“The British armed forces have one of the most highly respected reputations in the world because of their standards and values on the battlefield,” Mr Ellwood said.

“If evidence comes to light that we have fallen beneath those standards, then it’s imperative that the military police reopen the investigation.”

A consensus appeared that work had to be done to address how information from investigations reached ministers through the SAS.