Al-Sweady inquiry report
Report of the public inquiry into allegations of unlawful killing and ill treatment of Iraqi nationals by British troops in Iraq in 2004.
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Sir Thayne Forbes has published the report of his public inquiry into allegations of unlawful killing and ill treatment of Iraqi nationals by British troops in Iraq in 2004.
His report has established beyond doubt that all the most serious allegations made against British soldiers in what became known as the Battle of Danny Boy and its aftermath have been found to be wholly without foundation and entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility. There were some instances of ill treatment of 9 Iraqi detainees by the British military during their overnight custody in May 2004 at Camp Abu Naji in southern Iraq but there were relatively minor when compared with the original very serious allegations.
The events with which the inquiry was concerned commenced with a deadly, planned and co-ordinated armed ambush of British troops on Route 6 on 14 May 2004. That armed ambush was carried out by a large number of heavily armed Iraqi insurgents, including the 9 detainees, who were intent on inflicting as much damage upon British troops as they could. A fierce battle ensued which resulted in 28 Iraqis being killed and 9 live Iraqis taken prisoner back to Camp Abu Naji where they were detained overnight prior to their transfer to the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility at Shaibah Logistics base where they were detained for a further 4 months prior to their release to the Iraqi Authorities.
Sir Thayne makes 9 recommendations where he considers certain practices were unsatisfactory or deficient. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has accepted all of the recommendations in principle.