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| 'Dead Taliban fighter' photographs spark RAF probe | 'Dead Taliban fighter' photographs spark RAF probe |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Photographs which appear to show at least one UK serviceman posing with a dead Taliban fighter are being treated "extremely seriously", the RAF says. | Photographs which appear to show at least one UK serviceman posing with a dead Taliban fighter are being treated "extremely seriously", the RAF says. |
| The pictures were taken after a 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, UK troops' main base in Afghanistan. They first appeared on the website Live Leak. | The pictures were taken after a 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, UK troops' main base in Afghanistan. They first appeared on the website Live Leak. |
| Two RAF Regiment members have been withdrawn from front-line duties. | Two RAF Regiment members have been withdrawn from front-line duties. |
| The taking of so-called trophy photographs is strictly forbidden and military police are investigating. | The taking of so-called trophy photographs is strictly forbidden and military police are investigating. |
| The images show some of the damage caused in the attack, but two appear to show at least one member of the RAF Regiment giving a thumbs-up sign while kneeling next to the bloodied body of a dead insurgent. | The images show some of the damage caused in the attack, but two appear to show at least one member of the RAF Regiment giving a thumbs-up sign while kneeling next to the bloodied body of a dead insurgent. |
| It is not clear whether the same serviceman is in both pictures. | It is not clear whether the same serviceman is in both pictures. |
| The RAF Regiment is the ground fighting force of the Royal Air Force. | The RAF Regiment is the ground fighting force of the Royal Air Force. |
| It is believed the serviceman, or servicemen, are from 51 Squadron. The squadron, based in Moray, was involved in defending Camp Bastion during the attack. | It is believed the serviceman, or servicemen, are from 51 Squadron. The squadron, based in Moray, was involved in defending Camp Bastion during the attack. |
| A spokesman said the RAF had a "zero-tolerance policy on the mistreatment of deceased enemy personnel", adding that the case was being treated "extremely seriously" and the focus of an RAF Police investigation. | |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Adams says much will depend on what investigators make of the images. There is no suggestion the fighter was shot in cold blood or abused afterwards, but the incident could represent a breach of the Geneva Conventions, our correspondent said. | BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Adams says much will depend on what investigators make of the images. There is no suggestion the fighter was shot in cold blood or abused afterwards, but the incident could represent a breach of the Geneva Conventions, our correspondent said. |
| Joanne Mariner, director of law and policy at Amnesty International, said article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits the "disrespectful and degrading treatment of the bodies of dead combatants". | Joanne Mariner, director of law and policy at Amnesty International, said article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits the "disrespectful and degrading treatment of the bodies of dead combatants". |
| "There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident. It is encouraging to learn that the UK military has instigated one," she said. | "There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident. It is encouraging to learn that the UK military has instigated one," she said. |
| The personnel now suspended were back serving in Afghanistan when the photos came to light last month on Live Leak, a website used by servicemen from several countries to post photographs of incidents during their deployments. | The personnel now suspended were back serving in Afghanistan when the photos came to light last month on Live Leak, a website used by servicemen from several countries to post photographs of incidents during their deployments. |
| Two US marines were killed, a number of British soldiers were injured and six US Harrier jets were destroyed in the September 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, in Helmand province. | Two US marines were killed, a number of British soldiers were injured and six US Harrier jets were destroyed in the September 2012 attack on Camp Bastion, in Helmand province. |
| A report by MPs published last month said British commanders must "bear a degree of responsibility" for the failure to prevent the raid. Prince Harry was serving at the camp as a member of the Army Air Corps at the time . | A report by MPs published last month said British commanders must "bear a degree of responsibility" for the failure to prevent the raid. Prince Harry was serving at the camp as a member of the Army Air Corps at the time . |