Team reviewing alleged war crimes did not see key evidence, Afghanistan inquiry told

‘An independent review team has told an inquiry that key photographic evidence was left out when it was asked to examine whether UK special forces had committed war crimes, according to the Sky News feed. The inquiry has heard that information was omitted from the review, raising fresh questions about the handling of allegations involving UK forces.’

Why it matters

The Afghanistan inquiry is examining whether UK special forces committed war crimes, and the handling of photographic evidence is central to that examination. The discovery that key material was left out of the review is significant because it suggests the review may not have been able to reach a fully informed conclusion.

The omission of photographic evidence has broader implications for how war crimes investigations are conducted and how much weight is given to photographic material. The inquiry will have to consider whether the missing evidence could change the picture of what happened, and whether the review process itself requires scrutiny.

The way in which evidence is handled in such inquiries matters because it shapes public trust in the investigation’s outcome. If key material is excluded, the findings may be challenged, and the families of those affected may feel that the process has not been thorough.

What happens next

The inquiry will continue to examine how the review was conducted and what evidence was available to the review team. Further hearings are expected to examine the extent of the omission and its impact on the findings.

UK authorities and the review team are expected to explain how the evidence was left out and whether it will now be incorporated into the investigation. The inquiry remains at an early stage, and further details are likely to emerge as it proceeds.

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The outcome of the inquiry will be closely scrutinised by the public and by campaign groups. Whatever the result, the handling of the photographic evidence is likely to be a subject of criticism and of further examination.