Hundreds of British soldiers who served in Iraq have been pursued by investigators over claims of murder and torture.
They have received letters questioning their role in the alleged abuse of suspected insurgents on the frontline.
On Friday night MPs and forces chiefs labelled the move to contact 280 soldiers a “despicable witch-hunt”.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that no member of the British Armed Forces will be prosecuted unless there is sufficient evidence to do so.”
Andrew Cayley QC
Some veterans have even been handed the letters personally and quizzed on their doorsteps by taxpayer-funded detectives.
According to The Independent, dozens of cases have already been referred to prosecutors with more than 50 deaths set to be examined.
The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) is believed to have sought advice from the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) on unlawful death cases involving 35 alleged killings, and 36 cases of alleged abuse and mistreatment.
The SPA – which is the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service – is preparing to advise on an additional 20 cases of unlawful killing and 71 cases of mistreatment in the near future.
A director of the SPA has said his team would not “flinch” in prosecuting British soldiers where there is evidence of unlawful torture or killing.
Andrew Cayley QC, a former war crimes prosecutor, told The Independent: “Make no mistake we will give all these IHAT cases the thorough scrutiny the law requires and if prosecution is warranted we will not flinch from proceeding.
Read more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/12090556/Hundreds-of-British-soldiers-questioned-in-Iraq-war-witch-hunt.html
