Key facts
- Inquiry lead barrister Oliver Glasgow KC said the photos may be evidence of possible war crimes and merit expert analysis.
- Seventeen people were killed across the two operations in Helmand province in 2011, the youngest aged 15 and 14.
- Glasgow said the photos appeared to contradict SAS accounts and would have raised questions for military police.
- Lt Col John Harvey, who led the military police murder probe, agreed the photos did not look right.
- An investigator, speaking anonymously to the BBC, said bullet marks low on walls undermined the special forces' version.
- The inquiry heard investigators were still in Afghanistan in July 2019 as senior officers prepared to close the murder investigation.
A UK public inquiry into special forces operations in Afghanistan published photographs on November 11, 2026 that its lead barrister said may be evidence of possible war crimes. The images, taken across two SAS operations, show multiple unarmed people lying in bed with what the inquiry described as traumatic injuries to the head or face.
Oliver Glasgow KC, the inquiry's lead barrister, said many of those pictured look like they sustained head shots and that in a number of cases there appears to be a dead body with his head on a pillow. He said further analysis may confirm whether the people were shot when asleep, and that the photos appeared to contradict the accounts given by the SAS.
Seventeen people were killed across the two operations, which took place in Helmand province in 2011. The youngest killed in each operation were 15 and 14 years old respectively. The inquiry is examining allegations that the SAS murdered unarmed civilians and detainees on night raids between 2010 and 2013 and planted weapons to cover up the killings.
Lt Col John Harvey, who led the military police murder probe, told the inquiry his team were clear the photos could be vital evidence and agreed they did not look right. Despite repeated requests by police investigators to submit the photographs for further testing, the inquiry heard this never took place. One investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that bullet marks low on the walls appeared to undermine the special forces' version of events.
Official special forces accounts of the incidents claim Taliban insurgents opened fire on troops as they entered the compounds, forcing the SAS to return fire. The inquiry also heard that investigators were still in Afghanistan in July 2019 gathering evidence as senior officers prepared to close their murder investigation and inform ministers. The inquiry is subjecting the photographs to expert forensic analysis.