One British soldier admitted to shooting an eight-year-old Afghan boy
British army personnel located in Iraq and Afghanistan shot several children and teenagers, who were suspected of surveilling them, according to a report published by the Middle East Eye.
Soldiers interviewed by the online publication stated that they were allowed to shoot unarmed civilians, in addition to anyone carrying a mobile phone, a shovel or even acting suspiciously.
“Anyone you deem is a terrorist, you shoot them,” one of the soldiers said. “But how could we know if they were a threat? Not all of them were, some were just people holding phones.
“We were shooting old men, young men. This is what I witnessed. I have never seen such lawlessness,” he said.
The rules of engagement had been relaxed due to the fear that militants could be using civilians to plant roadside bombs.
A former Royal Marine recounted how one of his officers owned up to shooting an eight-year-old Afghan boy when the child’s father came bearing the corpse of his dead son, demanding an explanation.
“Our commanders, they would tell us: ‘We will protect you if any investigation comes. Just say you genuinely thought your life was at risk - those words will protect you,’” said another ex-soldier.
