British forces face criminal probe over 52 Afghan murders

Hundreds of British soldiers face investigation over cases of alleged murder and abuse, in a series of legal challenges waged by two leading human rights law firms.

The alleged abuses date predominantly from 2011 to 2013, when Britain’s presence in Helmand province, Afghanistan had reached its peak.

Operation Northmoor

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has launched specialist investigation Operation Northmoor to examine the claims. Some 64 Royal Military Police officers have been drafted in to investigate the allegations, which involve 52 deaths in 15 separate incidents of unlawful killing.

Human rights law firm Leigh Day is representing 81 of the Afghan claimants. Officers have so far investigated three cases concerning six alleged murders. However, no charges have been brought.

The success of this latest wave of claims against British troops depends on the outcome of a Supreme Court case involving convicted insurgent Serdar Mohammed. Mohammed is suspected of being a senior Taliban commander who was involved in the making of roadside bombs used to target British troops.

After he was convicted for his role as an insurgent, his lawyers say he was illegally detained by UK forces. Mohammed’s case, which began on February 1, has been waged under the Human Rights Act and is the first to challenge the legal grounding for British detention programs in Afghanistan.

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