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Soldiers declare SAS got ‘license to kill and used Mr Wolf ways’ on mission

An inquiry into the SAS’ involvement in Afghanistan over a decade ago has been carried out, with shocking claims that squadrons ‘flat packed’ Afghans and were given a ‘licence to kill’

SAS Afghanistan inquiry
Around 80 Afghan civilians were dead after an SAS deployment (stock)(Image: Getty Images)

Soldiers claim that the SAS had special privileges that essentially granted them a ‘license to kill’ while on mission.

A recent inquiry into British forces’ part in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013. Some soldiers were said to send emails to authorities about the actions of other special forces officers, claiming they were killing innocent Afghans during raids. One soldier read from an email sent in 2011 that said the SAS acted “beyond reproach”, with “a golden pass allowing them to get away with murder.”

Another claim said rumours were spread at the time which described soldiers using so-called “dropped weapons” to give the impression Afghans were armed when they were shot. This includes placing ammunition next to them following their injuries or death.

SAS Afghanistan inquiry
An inquiry was held looking into the SAS (stock)(Image: Getty Images)

They supposedly referred to this act as “Mr Wolf,” a reference to the fixer “Winston Wolfe” from the Tarantino classic Pulp Fiction. The conflict is currently being looked into via an independent inquiry by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after the BBC reported that SAS soldiers killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances during the war in Afghanistan.

However, the soldiers claimed no such actions took place. One soldier, known simply as N1799, spoke about a concerning incident where some squadrons refused to consider who was being hurt.

“During these operations it was said that ‘all fighting age males are killed’ on target regardless of the threat they posed, this included those not holding weapons,” their witness statement said.

“It was also indicated that ‘fighting age males’ were being executed on target, inside compounds, using a variety of methods after they had been restrained. In one case it was mentioned a pillow was put over the head of an individual before being killed with a pistol.”

SAS Afghanistan inquiry
Soldiers made concerning claims (stock)(Image: Getty Images)

N1799 also expanded on claims he made about “flat packing.” Some Afghans were described as having been “flat packed.”

When asked to expand, he said “words that have been used about killing were like ‘flat packing’, ‘flat packing them’” because the conversation was between familiar colleagues. He described “graphic” details.

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Included in this was a SAS member, identified as N1201, told N1799, that “a pillow had been put over the head of someone before they had been killed with a pistol” during operations in Afghanistan. He was just one soldier to have given evidence to the inquiry, investigating the deaths of up to 80 Afghan civilians during an SAS deployment in Helmand province.

There have been growing inquiries into the UK’s military service in the Middle East and South Asia. However, the MoD has said none found enough evidence for prosecutions.

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