BRITISH SOLDIERS DROPPED PRISONERS FROM FORKLIFT, INQUIRY HEARS

An inquiry investigating alleged war crimes by British special forces in Afghanistan has heard testimony that soldiers dropped prisoners from a forklift "for fun". Monica Grenfell, who worked as a mess hand with the SAS between 2010 and 2013, recalled a soldier telling her he would place prisoners on a forklift, raise it to height and drive at speed to make them fall. Christopher Green, who served in Afghanistan from January to September 2012, also gave evidence to the inquiry after being invited to come forward as a witness. The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, is investigating alleged war crimes by UK special forces during the 2010 to 2013 period, as well as claims of a cover-up.

Green raised concerns about the killing of three Afghan farmers by the SAS, stating his own unit's intelligence team believed there was no evidence the men were Taliban commanders. An SAS representative insisted the men were Taliban commanders and had drawn weapons during the raid, but Green said he was denied access to footage to verify this account. The mother of the three farmers received £3,634 in cash from the UK government, described as an "assistance payment". Green said he was dismissed as a "Taliban-loving apologist" after raising these concerns.

Both whistleblowers described a culture within the SAS in which normal rules appeared not to apply. Grenfell said she had never encountered a comparable environment, describing language and behaviour she considered unacceptable. Green, who served as a captain in the Grenadier Guards and has since retired, stated that SAS soldiers were permitted alcohol when it was banned for other personnel, and that special forces members did not follow standard dress codes or hierarchy protocols.