UK Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer has provided testimony to a public inquiry regarding "horrific" accounts he heard from former members of Afghan special forces, implicating the SAS in the killing of unarmed detainees and children.

During the inquiry, Mercer confirmed that he was describing "allegations of straight murder" by the SAS, in response to clarification from the chair. This revelation comes after BBC Panorama reported that UK Special Forces blocked Afghan special forces, known as the "Triples," from relocating to the UK following the Taliban's resurgence in 2021.

Former SAS members disclosed to Panorama a potential conflict of interest, as UK Special Forces had the authority to veto Triples' applications, potentially hindering their testimony in the public inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, initiated in response to media reporting, is investigating allegations of civilian deaths during night raids in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013. The Triples, from Afghan units CF 333 and ATF 444, often accompanied the SAS on these raids.

Mercer described the allegations presented to him as "horrific" and confirmed that they included accounts of the SAS executing detainees, including children, who posed no threat and were already restrained. He emphasized that there was no justification for the loss of life in such circumstances.

Previous reporting by the BBC uncovered that one SAS squadron alone was implicated in the suspicious deaths of at least 54 individuals, including detainees and children, during a six-month tour of Afghanistan.

Mercer highlighted concerns about the SAS's operations and the injuries sustained by children, which led Triples units to refuse to participate in missions with the British elite force. He emphasized the significance of Afghan special forces refusing to accompany the SAS as cause for concern.