Veterans warn of fresh witch hunt against SAS over Afghanistan war

VETERANS have warned of a renewed witch hunt after it emerged lawyers who made numerous false claims against British troops in Iraq are now pursuing “rogue” SAS soldiers who fought in Afghanistan.

Leigh Day, which worked alongside disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner in the now infamous Al-sweady Inquiry, is now involved in claims alleging members of the elite regiment executed unarmed civilians in Helmand Province during a hunt for Taliban leaders.

Sources said the Royal Military Police (RMP) is investigating an incident in 2011 where a family of four were allegedly handcuffed, hooded and then shot by SAS soldiers.

This was allegedly part of a campaign of unlawful action which saw squads of special forces deliberately set out to kill suspected insurgents, rather than detain them for questioning.

The investigation is the remaining part of the multi-million pound Operation Northmoor, most of which was scaled back this year, and comes alongside a civil claim against the Ministry of Defence (MOD), brought by Leigh Day.

Senior Afghanistan veterans last night said the allegations “don’t ring true” and warned the Army hierarchy to “treat with extreme caution” claims of widespread wrongdoing by troops.

The law firm was at the forefront of claims following the battle of Danny Boy in Iraq in 2004, which alleged British soldiers had tortured and murdered innocent Iraqis after being ambushed.

The £29million Al-sweady inquiry eventually concluded after five years that the allegations were without foundation and the product of lies. Colonel Richard Kemp, who formerly commanded British forces in Afghanistan, including special forces, told The Daily Telegraph: “This doesn’t ring true to me.

“We’ve learnt from the investigations into troops in Iraq, brought by British lawyers, that they can be made for political or commercial reasons, and harrowing for the individuals involved. Special forces are highly disciplined and they don’t lash out and kill anything that moves.” Military sources told The Sunday Times the RMP has investigated allegations that the SAS falsified mission reports, soldiers planted pistols on corpses to make them look like legitimate targets, bullets used by British forces were allegedly found in those supposed to have been killed by Afghan soldiers, and drone and other footage appeared to show SAS soldiers opening fire first.

An MOD spokesman said: “The Royal Military Police has found no evidence of criminal behaviour by the Armed Forces in Afghanistan. They have discontinued over 90 per cent of the 675 allegations made and less than 10 investigations remain.

“Our military served with great courage and professionalism and we proudly hold them to the highest standards.”

‘Special forces are highly disciplined and they don’t lash out and kill everything that moves’