Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
10%
2 of 20 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate
Publisher signals
68/100
Daily Mail's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
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An inquiry into allegations that British Special Forces murdered unarmed Afghan civilians has cost £58m, new figures have revealed.
asserted
figures → see → m
The inquiry has been running for more than three and a half years and has yet to publish any findings, despite aiming to report 'at least on an interim basis' within 12 to 18 months.
asserted
inquiry → run → months
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was commissioned to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
asserted
Inquiry → relate → 2010
The allegations include that during so-called night raids targeting the Taliban, the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children.
asserted
SAS → include → children
In a statement in response to the delay in the findings, the inquiry said its work was 'greater and more complex than it originally envisaged'.
It also said that delays by the Ministry of Defence in disclosing information had also affected the timetable.
asserted
delays → say → timetable
The Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan began hearing evidence in 2023 after being set up by the former defence secretary, Ben Wallace, in the wake of allegations first reported by BBC Panorama in 2022.
asserted
Inquiry → relate → 2022
Since then, scores of witnesses have provided evidence in closed and open sessions.
asserted
scores → provide → sessions
Pictured: An earlier SAS night raid in Iraq
Pictured: Afghan and Western Special Forces in Helmand Province Afghanistan fighting the Taliban
The inquiry has already heard from senior UK military personnel who believed that the SAS did carry out out extra judicial killings of Afghan civilians.
asserted
SAS → picture → civilians
It also heard concerns raised about secrecy in how the SAS operated and how previous investigations in the claims were closed early.
uncertain
investigations → hear → claims
Last year, it was reported that the elite troops have ignored requests to discuss SAS night raids over fears that evidence they provide could be used against them or their colleagues in any subsequent criminal investigation.
uncertain
they → report → investigation
Most SAS and SBS witnesses have given testimony behind closed doors due to restrictions around their identity and security classifications surrounding operations.
asserted
witnesses → give → operations
Up until the end of the 2024-5 financial year, the inquiry's costs were reported to be £14.68m.
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costs → report → year
This includes salaries for the chair, Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, its secretariat, lawyers and expert witnesses.
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This → include → chair
However, a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC revealed that the MoD put the overall cost at £58million to March 2026.
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MoD → submit → March
The costs included payments to the MoD along with those of the inquiry team, it said.
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it → include → team
It added that 74 staff at the MoD were currently working more than 50 per cent of their time on the inquiry.
asserted
staff → add → inquiry
The inquiry said its spending was proportionate and overseen judicially.
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spending → say → ?
The SAS Regimental Association (SASRA) said it remained committed to supporting the inquiry and its conclusion in a 'timely solution', but added that the 'prolonged nature' of the inquiry has caused 'significant and widening harm'.
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nature → say → harm
It said that the inquiry poses a 'significant challenge, not only to the regiment's reputation and the wellbeing and morale of its members, but in the association's view, to the operational effectiveness of a key element of the nation's defence'.
asserted
inquiry → say → defence
A spokesperson for the inquiry told the BBC: 'The chair remains committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel and witnesses who come forward to the inquiry.'
asserted
who → tell → inquiry
The Aporia
