While the story cannot be verified, a veterans group in the United Kingdom alleges that an unnamed British sniper is being investigated for not shouting a warning at an Iraqi insurgent, who was prepared to fire a rocket-propelled, before killing him. This sniper appears to be a victim of a bunch of “ambulance chasing” lawyers trying to gain compensation for their Iraqi clients, while smearing their fellow servicemen in the process (via The Telegraph):
The group, UK Veterans One Voice, says the unidentified soldier is the subject of an inquiry by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), despite preventing an attack on a British base.The investigation team has been accused of running a witch hunt against British soldiers who served in Iraq as it investigates allegations of murder and torture.
The sniper's account contains no details of when or where the incident happened and could not be immediately verified.
However, the dramatic tale published by UK Veterans One Voice begins with the words: “This is not fiction.”
It describes how a British base was subject to attack by an Iraqi armed with an RPG after Friday prayers over a period of weeks. Soldiers were told not to return fire for fear of hurting bystanders who gathered to watch after they left the local mosque.
[...]
As the insurgent’s finger tightened on the trigger of the RPG, a single shot cracked out,” says the account.
“The round flew almost 1200 metres across the face of the crowd missing them safely. The RPG jumped unfired into the air and the insurgent’s body briefly flew across the ground having been hit by a veteran of long military service, a graduate of the Army Sniper School.”
[…]
The IHAT team was set up by the Ministry of Defense in 2010 after dozens of claims from Iraq were submitted by British lawyers.
Initially, £57 million was set aside to investigate 152 allegations of unlawful killing and abuse. Since then the number of cases has passed 1500, provoking anger among veterans and their families who say they are being treated unfairly after putting their lives on the line for Queen and country.
[…]
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, recently criticised "ambulance chasing" law firms, which he said were inhibiting the effectiveness of British troops abroad.
If this investigation is true, what an absolute disgrace. That sniper is a hero to any one who is, well, capable of rational thought.
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