An 'Afghan civilian' killed by the SAS was actually a Taliban bomb-maker and number two in a terror cell, intelligence experts say.
Their report adds the Taliban kingpin was hunted by British Special Forces who believed he was also behind local suicide bombings, and attempts to kill troops.
Notes compiled by the SAS team confirm the man – codenamed Sadam – was a danger to troops – prompting an arrest mission in which he was killed.
Troops opened fire after he and henchmen attacked with AK47s and grenades.
Senior defence sources have reacted furiously over claims of a “rogue” SAS hit-squad murdering civilians in Afghanistan in 2011. One claim suggests Sadam was an innocent farmer.
A source said: “This is another attempt at destroying the reputations of soldiers working against a ruthless enemy who were protecting themselves.”
The paper called a First Impression Report, is marked “secret” and details the reasons for an SAS raid, one of many in 2011, during which Sadam was EKIA – Enemy Killed In Action.
According to reports, Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace has been ordered by a judge to explain why evidence the SAS unit “executed” innocent civilians was withheld from a High Court case in which it is accused of covering up war crimes.
The “evidence” concerns emails between SAS officers apparently concerned about the killings of 33 people in 11 night raids in three months by the unit.
The MoD said: “This is not new evidence and this historical case has already been independently investigated by the Royal Military Police. It has also been subject to four reviews conducted by an Independent Review Team.”
