Inquiry into Falklands 'war crimes'

DETECTIVES will go to the Falkland Islands next week to investigate allegations that Argentine soldiers were victims of war crimes by British troops during the 1982 war.

Det Supt Alec Edwards and Det Insp Dave Shipperlee of Scotland Yard's International and Organised Crimes Squad start a four-day visit on 2 February. They will question islanders and the possibility of exhuming bodies of prisoners of war will also be examined. Detectives have already interviewed serving and former members of the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and investigations are continuing.

Allegations that Argentine prisoners of war were shot were made in Excursion to Hell, by former L/Cpl Vincent Bramley, who served in 3 Para Support.

Tam Dalyell, the Labour MP for Linlithgow, welcomed the investigation. 'I first heard rumours that things had not been right in October 1982,' he said.

'I did nothing because it was not part of my case against the Falklands war to denigrate British servicemen. When last year controversy flared up as a result of Vincent Bramley's book, I wrote to Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind saying one way or another . . . it would have to be cleared up.'

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