UK special forces could face prosecution after evidence of 'serious offences' in Afghanistan is passed to military police

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

The Ministry of Defence identified material suggesting special forces personnel may have committed murder, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm in Afghanistan.

Evidence of potential war crimes by UK special forces has been handed to the Defence Serious Crime Unit after the Ministry of Defence uncovered it during the ongoing SAS Inquiry. The referral — covering detention operations carried out between 2010 and 2013 — marks the first public acknowledgement that the inquiry's findings could lead to criminal prosecutions for murder, manslaughter or grievous bodily harm.

Any criminal investigation has been paused until the SAS Inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, concludes its examination of alleged unlawful killings and a subsequent cover-up.

The referral came to light at a High Court hearing brought by a senior military officer, known only as Witness IIA126, who is challenging the inquiry's decision to withhold restricted evidence from him and his lawyers.

In a related development, Australian SAS veteran Oliver Schulz is set to argue he was 'following orders' when his Afghan war crimes murder trial begins next year — the first such test of the 'superior orders' defence since the Nuremberg trials.

thenightly.com.auSAS vet on murder charge to argue he was following orders The TelegraphSAS troops may face jail over ‘serious Afghanistan crimes’ - The Telegraph BBC NewsUK special forces could face prosecution as Afghanistan evidence referred to police The IndependentUK special forces may have committed 'serious offences' in Afghanistan, court told The Independent on MSNBritish troops could face criminal prosecution over serious offences The Independent on MSNUK special forces 'may have committed serious offences' in Afghanistan

Read today's full feed at The Newshound →