Basra prison incident

The Basra prison incident was an event involving British troops in Basra, Iraq. On 19 September 2005, two undercover British Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers disguised in Arab civilian garments and headdresses opened fire on Iraqi Police officers after having been stopped at a roadblock. Two Iraqi officers were shot, at least one of whom died. [1] The two British men were arrested and taken to the Al Jameat police station.

In response, twenty members of A Squadron 22nd SAS Regiment and a platoon of paratroopers from the Special Forces Support Group flew from Baghdad to Basra. Other SAS operators tracked down their two colleagues to Al Jameat police station and then withdrew and called in Hathor's QRF (Quick Reaction Force) in Basra, whilst a predator drone fed JOC live feed on the prison. [2]

British tanks and infantry encircled the jail where the men (whose photographs have been widely circulated but whose names have not been made public) were being held. A crowd gathered and began throwing stones and petrol bombs at the tanks, setting at least one ablaze. Three British soldiers were injured and, according to some reports, two demonstrators were killed. [1][3]

According to the governor of Basra province, Mohammed al-Waili, the British had used "more than ten tanks backed by helicopters" to carry out the raid. The assault on the prison was spearheaded by Warrior IFV's and Challenger tanks breaking down the walls and destroying cars and flimsy buildings.[4] The British assault allowed 150 prisoners to flee the prison. [1][5]

The Ministry of Defence initially denied storming the prison.[6] In later statements, it said that the soldiers would have likely been killed, and that the police force had been infiltrated by illegal militia groups.[7]

Muhammad al-Waili denounced the event as "barbaric, savage and irresponsible".

On 25 December 2006, British troops again raided the Al Jameat station, killing seven gunmen and freeing 127 prisoners being held by Shia militias there. They then blew up the building.[8] A British Army spokesperson stated that the 127 prisoners freed had been tortured and that there were fears that they were about to be executed.[9]

Shortly afterwards in 2007 the British handed over all activities to the US and withdrew from Basra.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "British soldiers free two from Basra jail". USA Today. 19 September 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Urban, Mark, Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq , St. Martin's Griffin , 2012 ISBN 1250006961 ISBN 978-1250006967,p.95,p.99-101
  3. ↑ The British Embassy requested the men's release but they were ignored by the Iraqi interior ministry and the Iraqi police prepared to withstand an attack. By mid afternoon, British commanders gave the authority to assault the police station Urban, Mark, Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq , St. Martin's Griffin , 2012 ISBN 1250006961 ISBN 978-1250006967, p.103-104
  4. ↑ Urban, Mark, Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq , St. Martin's Griffin , 2012 ISBN 1250006961 ISBN 978-1250006967, p.104-106
  5. ↑ "British tanks storm Basra jail to free undercover soldiers" (20 September 2005). The Guardian.
  6. ↑ "UK denies storming Iraqi jail to free soldiers" (20 September 2005). ABC News Online
  7. ↑ SAS stormed prison to save soldiers from execution" (21 September 2005). Times Online.
  8. ↑ "British troops attack Iraqi police station in Basra" (25 December 2006). International Herald Tribune.
  9. ↑ "Discussions to follow Basra raid" (26 December 2006). BBC News.

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