British General Accused of Concealing Evidence of War Crimes by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan
A senior British general has been accused of hiding evidence of potential war crimes committed by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan, according to a report by the BBC. The allegations involve extrajudicial killings of handcuffed Afghan detainees and unarmed civilians, which were allegedly concealed in a classified dossier instead of being reported to the Royal Military Police.
The accused officer, Gen. Gwyn Jenkins, who currently holds the position of the British Armed Forces’ second most senior officer, allegedly locked away a file containing crucial testimony regarding the alleged crimes. The evidence was reportedly brought to his attention in 2011 when he was still a Special Forces colonel heading the Special Boat Service. He then informed his senior officer, Gen. Jonathan Page, but instead of notifying the Royal Military Police, he kept the evidence classified.
The BBC’s Panorama program claims that Jenkins was informed by a junior officer that SAS units in Afghanistan were carrying out unlawful killings and executing detainees during night raids. These actions were said to target individuals deemed to be fighting-age males aged 15 years or older, regardless of whether they posed a threat. In one instance, it was alleged that a pillow was used to suffocate an individual being killed with a pistol.
After receiving this information, Jenkins requested a formal statement from the officer and labeled the report as ALLEGATIONS OF EJK (extrajudicial killings) BY UKSF (UK Special Forces) in his correspondence with Page. He expressed serious concern about the reputation of UK Special Forces and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation. However, instead of immediately handing over the evidence to the Royal Military Police as required by law, Jenkins created a classified file to limit access to the information.
The existence of the dossier only came to light when a whistleblower informed the Royal Military Police four years later. It was revealed that the testimony had been classified by Jenkins, preventing the RMP from accessing crucial evidence during their investigations.
In response to Jenkins’ concerns, Page initiated a review into SAS tactics. However, the BBC alleges that the review was flawed as it failed to interview witnesses outside of the Armed Forces and neglected to visit the sites of the alleged incidents. The review concluded that there were no major issues, and the findings were approved by the commanding officer of the SAS unit accused of the suspicious killings.
In 2020, during a court case at the High Court brought by families of Afghans killed in SAS night raids, it was disclosed that the classification of the testimony by Jenkins had hindered the RMP’s access to key evidence during their investigations.
The Ministry of Defence has stated its full commitment to supporting the ongoing public inquiry into the allegations of war crimes by British Special Forces in Afghanistan. They have declined to comment further on the matter while the inquiry is underway.
This latest accusation raises serious questions about accountability and transparency within the UK military. The public inquiry and investigations by the Royal Military Police will be crucial in establishing the truth and ensuring justice for any victims of war crimes.
