Daily Mirror

Afghan ‘civilian’ shot dead by SAS was Taliban bombmaker

Special forces attacked with grenades and machine guns

- BY CHRIS HUGHES Defence and Security Editor c.hughes@mirror.co.uk @defencechr­is

AN “Afghan civilian” killed by the SAS was actually a Taliban bombmaker and number two in a terror cell, intelligen­ce experts say.

Their report claims he was hunted by British Special Forces who believed he was also behind local suicide bombings, and attempts to kill troops.

Notes compiled by the SAS team state the man – codenamed Sadam – was a danger to troops – prompting an arrest mission in which he was killed. They say troops opened fire after he and henchmen attacked with AK47s and grenades.

Senior defence sources have reacted furiously over claims of a “rogue” SAS hit-squad murdering civilians in Afghanista­n in 2011. One claim suggests Sadam was an innocent farmer.

A source said: “This is another attempt at destroying the reputation­s of soldiers working against a ruthless enemy who were protecting themselves.” The paper called a First Impression Report, is marked “secret” and details the reasons for an SAS raid, one of many in 2011, during which Sadam was EKIA – Enemy Killed In Action.

According to reports, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has been ordered by a judge to explain why evidence the SAS unit “executed” innocent civilians was withheld from a High Court case in which it is accused of covering up war crimes.

The “evidence” concerns emails between SAS officers apparently concerned about the killings of 33 people in 11 night raids in three months by the unit.

The MoD said: “This is not new evidence, this case has already been investigat­ed by the Royal Military Police. These documents were considered as part of independen­t investigat­ions, which concluded there was insufficie­nt evidence to refer the case for prosecutio­n.”

This is an attempt to destroy the reputation­s of soldiers

MOD SOURCE SPEAKING EXCLUSIVEL­Y TO MIRROR

 ??  ?? UNDER FIRE
The SAS has defended its actions
UNDER FIRE The SAS has defended its actions
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? ORDER Wallace
ORDER Wallace
 ??  ??

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