Mark Nichol Defense Editor, Daily Mail
Updated February 21, 2024 22:00, February 21, 2024 22:54
- Mark Nichol says it was the ‘most intense interview’ of his 25-year career
An interview with a former SAS soldier obtained by the Mail’s defense and foreign affairs editor was tantamount to a “murder” confession, the reporter said yesterday.
Mark Nichol, who spoke to the former soldier in 2017 as he gave evidence about the Afghanistan investigation, said it was the “most intense interview” of his 25-year career.
The hearing was provided with a chilling recording of a 40-minute exchange in which a former soldier confessed to “hunting down and executing” unarmed Afghans.
He frankly admitted to Nicol that his forces regularly killed Taliban suspects and planted weapons on unarmed men to make it appear as if they posed an immediate threat. Ta.
“I don’t think we did anything wrong,” the SAS soldier said in an excerpt read out at the hearing. I think it was necessary for the people we were dealing with, and that’s how we collapsed the Taliban. ”
However, the man admitted that some of the incidents he was personally involved in “affected your mind” and asked, “Was everything I did right or wrong?” he added. But that was my job…”
In a shocking confession, the former soldier went on to reveal how during one operation his team leader instructed him to “bring back and search” the man.
“I read between the lines and did what I had to do,” he said.
“When I went to the bar afterwards, I just went quietly and thought, ‘Did I become this bad because of what I did?'” But he [the team leader] “No, I would never give you someone to take you anywhere with, unless there was a reason.”
“We’re not acting in cold blood and just looking for people. We’re going after these people individually.”
Nicol said she then realized the soldier was referring to extrajudicial killings.
The soldier said the suspected commanders would hide their weapons and suggested that troops would plant firearms on the corpses to force them to appear as if they posed a threat.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to provide supplies to Afghans on the ground while we’re doing our job. It was the only way we could deal with it. Then we took matters into our own hands. We will resolve it.” Hey, you know what I mean.
Mr Nicol, who wrote an article covering most aspects of the interview published in the Mail on Sunday at the time, agreed with sources that he would not “mention or allude” to any personal confessions.
Asked by lawyer Oliver Glasgow why he did not include the confession, Mr Nicol said: “At this point, some interpretation and specific circumstances are still unclear.”
“I think it would have been more reckless to do as you said.” [and included it nonetheless]. ”
The inquiry is looking into whether the Special Forces had a policy between 2010 and 2013 of executing men of “combat age” who did not pose an immediate threat to British troops in Afghanistan.
Afghan families have accused the force of carrying out a “murderous campaign” against civilians, alleging a cover-up.
The investigation continues.