British special forces soldiers in Afghanistan were reported to have dropped prisoners from forklifts as a form of entertainment and exhibited behavior reminiscent of the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’, according to an inquiry.
The Afghanistan Inquiry investigating alleged war crimes by the British Armed Forces heard testimony from whistleblowers Monica Grenfell, a former journalist, and Christopher Green, an Army Reserve member. The pair disclosed incidents of misconduct between 2010 and 2013, with redacted transcripts of their statements made public recently.
Green, who served as an information operations officer responsible for engaging with the local Afghan community to promote a positive future post-invasion, raised concerns about an incident where three farmers were killed in a night raid by special forces. Despite having the necessary security clearance, he was denied access to bodycam footage of the killings.
Grenfell, who worked at the special forces camp as a kitchen staff member and storewoman, shared disturbing accounts of soldier behavior. She recounted a soldier bragging about mistreating detainees by putting them on a forklift and driving erratically to make them fall off. She described the camp atmosphere as unpleasant, coarse, and feral, with instances of inappropriate sexual banter throughout the day.
The inquiry also examined claims of a cover-up of illegal activities and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police. Operation Northmoor, a £10 million probe initiated in 2014 to investigate allegations of executions by the SAS, including those involving children, did not result in any charges. Another investigation, Operation Cestro, referred three soldiers to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but no prosecutions were made.
In response to the inquiry, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the independent investigation and providing the necessary transparency and accountability expected from the armed forces. The inquiry is ongoing, with further testimonies and evidence being reviewed.
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