A former senior UK Special Forces officer has accused two ex-directors of suppressing evidence of war crimes in Afghanistan. His testimony, revealed by the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, alleges a deliberate effort to prevent critical information from reaching investigators. The BBC reported the claims on Monday after closed-session material was published. The officer, known as N1466, is the most senior former special forces figure to allege such a cover-up.
Inquiry Probes Unlawful Killings in Night Raids
The inquiry is examining allegations that SAS units unlawfully killed detainees and unarmed civilians during night raids. These allegations include the killing of children and unarmed Afghan men. Reporting restrictions prevent the identification of the accused former directors. However, N1466 said he provided “explosive” evidence in 2011 that indicated “criminal behaviour” in Afghanistan. He stated that the then-director of special forces failed to act on the material.
Leadership Accused of Withholding Evidence
N1466 told the inquiry that the director who took charge in 2012 also knew about the misconduct. He added that both leaders ignored their legal duty to report concerns to the Royal Military Police. He claimed that the leadership was “very much suppressing” the allegations. Former director of service prosecutions Bruce Houlder KC said the law imposed a “clear duty” on commanders to report suspected crimes, including murder.
Whistleblower Reports Highlight Disturbing Kill Patterns
N1466 first grew concerned in early 2011 after noticing unusually high numbers of Afghan men being killed. Operational reports showed few weapons recovered during these raids, raising further alarm. He cited a raid in which nine men died, yet only three weapons were found. He also mentioned whistleblower accounts of SAS troopers bragging about killing all “fighting-age” males. He labelled the actions disclosed to him as “war crimes.”
Internal Review Allegedly Manipulated
In 2011, he commissioned an internal review that looked “startlingly bad” for the SAS. He accused the then-director of ordering a limited “fake exercise” instead of notifying police. He said the director made a conscious decision to suppress the information. N1466 eventually reported his concerns to the RMP in 2015 and expressed regret for not acting sooner.
Afghan Families Seek Accountability
He described later raids that he believed could have been prevented. One raid in 2012 involved the shooting of two parents in bed beside their toddlers. The 2012 director denied the allegations and vowed to respond to the inquiry. Lawyer Tessa Gregory said Afghan families appreciated N1466’s honesty but remained worried that many soldiers were refusing to testify. The inquiry said it was investigating deliberate executions and not combat decisions.
