Inquiry releases photos suggesting possible unlawful killings by British troops

A public inquiry has published graphic photographs from two Special Air Service operations in Helmand province showing multiple deceased individuals lying in beds with apparent shots to the head, raising questions about whether some victims were shot while asleep.

The inquiry’s lead barrister, Oliver Glasgow KC, described the images as potentially essential evidence of possible war crimes and said many of the bodies appear to have sustained head shots. The photographs depict people tucked under blankets or with their heads on pillows and visible blood pooling around the head, with blood spatter low on a wall in at least one image.

Seventeen people died across the two operations in 2011, with the youngest victims reported as 15 and 14 years old respectively. Oliver Glasgow KC said the photos seemed to contradict accounts provided by the SAS and would have been significant for military police officers investigating the incidents as possible murders.

Lieutenant Colonel John Harvey, who led the military police murder probe, told the inquiry the images “didn’t look right” and agreed they could be vital evidence. Despite repeated requests by investigators for further forensic testing of the photographs, that testing did not take place at the time.

BBC Panorama has investigated allegations that the SAS executed unarmed civilians and children during night raids and has previously reported on the same guesthouses where the inquiry images were taken. Panorama’s weaponry experts said evidence they collected indicated rounds appeared to have been fired from above, consistent with victims lying down or sitting against a wall rather than engaging in a firefight.

The inquiry is subjecting the released photographs to expert forensic analysis and is examining whether alleged war crimes were thoroughly investigated by military authorities. Testimony presented to the inquiry included claims by an Afghan partner unit member that he personally witnessed a British soldier planting a rifle on an unarmed person after the person had been killed.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The publication of these photographs shifts the inquiry from closed investigation to public scrutiny by presenting visual material that, according to counsel, contradicts official special forces accounts. The images intensify scrutiny of investigative decisions, given military police requests for further testing were not acted on previously. Forensically examined photographic evidence could influence determinations about whether killings occurred in combat or while victims were unarmed and incapacitated.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• The inquiry has released photographs from two SAS operations showing multiple deceased people with apparent head injuries while lying in beds.
• Oliver Glasgow KC described the images as potential evidence of possible war crimes and said many victims appear to have sustained head shots.
• Seventeen people were killed across the two 2011 operations, with the youngest victims aged 15 and 14 in each operation.
• Military police investigators believed the photographs “didn’t look right” and sought further forensic testing that was not carried out at the time.
• BBC Panorama’s investigation previously visited the same sites and reported evidence suggesting rounds were fired from above, and family accounts described close-range fatal shots to head or chest.
• The inquiry received testimony claiming a British soldier was seen planting a rifle on a person who had been killed.