Marines held in murder inquiry

[Jimbuna]

Seven Royal Marines have been arrested on suspicion of murder, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The arrests by the Royal Military Police related to an incident in Afghanistan last year, when 3 Commando Brigade was based in Helmand.
The MoD said the incident followed an "engagement with an insurgent" and no civilians were involved.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19918398

Has anybody any idea what the actual incident was because my sources can't find any further details?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Purely speculative, and personal experience, Rules of Engagement differ between theatre but usually along the same lines of 'you fire when there is an imminent threat to life' (not property!). You can shoot someone taking aim, but you cannot shoot someone planting an IED.

Either they defended an attack and then went after the guys retreating (not now an imminent threat), or they spotted people planting devices and decided it was a imminent threat to life - even though technically it may have been - but within the rules it wasn't.

My best guess, I could be wrong.

[Jimbuna]

Could be pretty close considering they say it was an insurgent and not a civilian.

I hope they didn't capture one then carry out a summary execution.

[Oberon]

It's said that no civilians were involved in the event, so I'd wager that they overstepped the ROE. Could well be one of those situations where your emotions get the better of you. Either way though, ROEs are there for a reason, even if they don't make sense, and you can't really make exceptions.

[Oberon]

I hope they didn't capture one then carry out a summary execution.

Alas, Jim, that would be my best guess if I'm honest.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Losing 23 buddies would make my emotions take over, I'm sure. :nope:

[Oberon]

Losing 23 buddies would make my emotions take over, I'm sure. :nope:

Aye, I don't envy what those lads have seen, heard and felt one bit.

[Jimbuna]

Alas, Jim, that would be my best guess if I'm honest.

Losing 23 buddies would make my emotions take over, I'm sure. :nope:

Aye, I don't envy what those lads have seen, heard and felt one bit.

Whatever eventually comes out I only hope they aren't made scapegoats in some political attempt at appeasing a seriously corrupt and disfunctional ally.

[Tribesman]

Has anybody any idea what the actual incident was because my sources can't find any further details?
It seems that while investigating another unrelated case the military found a video of the marines discussing what to do with the wounded from the firefight.

[Jimbuna]

It seems that while investigating another unrelated case the military found a video of the marines discussing what to do with the wounded from the firefight.

So does that mean they carried out what they were discussing and video led them to said crime?

Yours is the only additional info I have atm.

[Herr-Berbunch]

If that's the case then it seems nothing has been learnt from previous video 'embarrassments'.

[Jimbuna]

Very true :nope:

[Jimbuna]

Five have been charged with murder:


Five Royal Marines have been charged with murder in connection with an incident in Afghanistan in 2011, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
Two marines were detained by Royal Military Police (RMP) over the weekend, bringing the total number of arrests to nine.
Four of those held have been released without charge.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19940138

[Catfish]

Overstepping the ROE has always happened everywhere in every war, and usually propaganda took over and exagerrated it (or sometimes not).
However if you think about this came out because of a leaked video, it makes one wonder how much such things happen, just without having a video for evidence.

But if no civilians were involved, they shot at - soldiers ? terrorists ? after surrendering ? All sounds a bit fishy.

[Jimbuna]

There must be some compelling evidence to charge them with murder...surely :hmm2: