Inquiry probes SAS killings and cover‑up claims

What's happened

Public inquiry hearing identifies rule 9 requests to SAS personnel as it seeks evidence on deliberate detention operations and potential cover‑ups amid allegations of 54 Afghan killings by SAS units and investigations by the Royal Military Police.

What's behind the headline?

Brief

• The inquiry has identified dozens of SAS personnel to hear direct evidence about deliberate detention operations. Rule 9 requests are being used to obtain statements or documents.
• Many witnesses plan to rely on privilege against self-incrimination, complicating the gathering of evidence.
• The inquiry is reviewing whether investigations by the Royal Military Police were adequate and whether there has been a broader cover‑up.

What this means

• The volume of material (around 10,000 high‑resolution images) suggests a substantial evidentiary base. If corroborated, findings could lead to criminal prosecutions.
• Public hearings are ongoing through October and November, with Afghan families invited to provide testimony about losses from detention operations.

Forecast

• The inquiry will likely uncover further documentation and testimonies, potentially reshaping accountability for special forces operations in Afghanistan.

How we got here

The inquiry was established in 2022 after Panorama’s reporting on alleged SAS detention operations in Afghanistan (2010–2013). It aims to determine if investigations were properly conducted and whether a cover‑up occurred, with thousands of images and testimonies being examined.

Our analysis

BBC Panorama and BBC reporting; Arab News coverage of Haddon‑Cave hearings; The Guardian reports on rule 9 notices and the inquiry framework.

Go deeper

• What new evidence has surfaced since the last hearing?
• Could this inquiry lead to prosecutions, and when might that happen?
• How are Afghan families participating in the inquiry shaping its findings?

More on these topics

• Afghanistan - Country in South Asia

  Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.

• Helmand Province - Province of Afghanistan

  Helmand, also known as Hillmand or Helman and, in ancient times, as Hermand and Hethumand, is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, in the south of the country. It is the largest province by area, covering 58,584 square kilometres area.

• Defense Ministry - Wikimedia disambiguation page

  A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divided into ministr

• Royal Military Police - Army

  The Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of army service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• British Broadcasting Corporation - Broadcasting company

  The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London, it is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees.