Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Ex-officer alleges UK war crimes in Afghanistan
A former senior British officer has told a public inquiry that British special forces in Afghanistan might have committed war crimes.
He said that during night-time raids from 2010 to 2013, some soldiers killed people who were already captured.
The officer, known as N1466, noticed that the number of people killed was more than the number of weapons found, which made him suspicious.
He reported his concerns to his superiors, but instead of investigating for possible crimes, they only reviewed the tactics.
The inquiry is looking into these allegations to find out if any laws were broken and if the military properly investigated these claims.
The officer wants to make sure that anyone who did something wrong is held accountable, while those who did nothing wrong are cleared of any suspicion.
A former senior British officer, N1466, testified that British special forces in Afghanistan appeared to commit war crimes by executing detainees during night-time raids from 2010 to 2013.
N1466 noticed that the number of enemies killed in action (EKIA) exceeded the number of weapons recovered, raising suspicions of extra-judicial killings.
The inquiry aims to determine if there was credible information of extra-judicial killings, if military police investigations were properly conducted, and if unlawful killings were covered up.
N1466 expressed regret for not approaching the military police himself at the time but later reported his concerns in 2015.
The inquiry has also heard evidence of frustrations among soldiers about the release of captured individuals due to the Afghan judicial system's inability to cope.
- Who
- British special forces, specifically a sub-unit referred to as UKSF1, and a former senior officer known as N1466
- What
- Allegations of war crimes, including the execution of detainees and extra-judicial killings during night-time raids in Afghanistan
- When
- Mid-2010 to mid-2013, with the inquiry focusing on events around 2011
- Where
- Afghanistan, during operations as part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Taliban and other militants
- Why
- To ascertain whether there was credible information of extra-judicial killings, whether investigations were properly conducted, and if unlawful killings were covered up
- Inquiry Period
- Mid-2010 to mid-2013
- Alleged Killings
- 54 people
- Inquiry Chair
- Charles Haddon-Cave
- Whistleblower
- N1466 (Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations in UK Special Forces Headquarters)
- Alleged Unit Involved
- UKSF1
- Reporting Period
- 2011
- Inquiry Focus
- Extra-judicial killings, military police investigations, and potential cover-ups