Hit and Run: The six people a new book alleges a NZ SAS raid killed

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

Three-year-old Fatima was one of six civilians killed during the SAS raid, according to the book Hit and Run.

A three-year-old girl. A father and son. Two poor farmers. A teacher visiting home.

These are the six Afghan civilians that were killed in a botched 2010 NZ-led SAS raid, according to a new book by journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson.

Authors Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson launched their book, Hit and Run, in Wellington on Tuesday night after years of working together on it.

The NZ-led raid on two villages in the Tirgiran valley came weeks after the first New Zealand death in Afghanistan. The SAS troops were supported by Afghan commandos and US helicopters.

While the authors stop short of directly accusing New Zealand soldiers of firing the weapons, they do suggest two of the dead were likely killed by SAS snipers rather than US gunships.

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In response, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said no civilians were killed by New Zealanders. They also pointed to an investigation carried out by US and Afghan forces which they say found the allegations of civilians casualties were unfounded.

Below are the deaths Hager and Stephenson detail in the book, based on interviews with villagers, a report from the Afghan government, and unnamed sources who say they were involved in the raid. The book includes a copy of an official list of deaths from the local government that includes these names.

Stuff is unable to independently verify the claims.

A piece of shrapnel hit three-year-old Fatima in the head. Credit: Jon Stephenson/Hit and Run

FATIMA, THE THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRL

The first death of the night-time raid was in the village of Khak Khudad Day, where American Apache gunships concentrated heavy fire on three houses, the book details.

Two mothers and five children were injured. One of the injured mothers was holding her three-year-old child Fatima, when a piece of shrapnel hit her in the head, killing her, a local told the authors.

'Although Fatima was only three years old she already attending school,' the local told them.

'She was very beautiful and intelligent.'

ABDUL FAQIR, A FARMER

A relative of Fatima named Abdul Faqir was also in the complex, and later died from shrapnel wounds, according to the book.

He was 'about 27' and a farmer. He was found with a piece of rocket lodged in his body and lived for about nine hours after the attack, locals told the authors.

He had no way of accessing serious medical help and died of his injuries, they write.

ABDUL QAYOOM, FATIMA'S UNCLE, A FARMER

Two unrelated men named Abdul Qayoom are alleged to have died.

The first Abdul, who was Fatima's uncle, was found dead with a bullet wound rather than shrapnel damage – meaning it was likely SAS snipers killed him rather than US gunships, the authors wrote.

It's understood by the authors he was fleeing a building when he was shot. They write that fleeing when one heard a military helicopter did not necessarily indicate anyone was an insurgent, as many civilians had reason to fear foreign military forces.

A local provided photos of drink bottles from an area they believed snipers used in the attack.

'When the helicopters arrived, [Abdul] headed out of the village on a path that passed below the same assumed sniper position. He was about 150 metres away when he was hit by a single bullet and died,' the authors wrote.

Locals say he left behind a wife and four children.

ISLAMUDDIN, A TEACHER

Islamuddin was home for a two-week break when he was killed. Credit: Jon Stephenson/Hit and Run

A man named Islamuddin is also said to have died from sniper fire while fleeing his home on foot.

'Islamuddin had gone about 50 metres up the hill behind his family home, apparently running directly towards the assumed SAS position. When he was about 30 metres from the empty water bottle spot he was shot in the chest with three bullets. Was he killed by members of the New Zealand SAS? The locals think so.'

Islamuddin had just got home from university, where he had gained a degree in education. He was home for a two-week break while looking for teaching jobs.

MOHAMMAD IQBAL, FATHER OF AN INSURGENT

Mohammad Iqbal was a 55-year-old farmer whose son Naimatullah was an insurgent with the Taliban, the book details.

Locals told the authors Iqbal did not approve of his son's activities.

Iqbal was killed by Apache pilots who tracked him a kilometre down the valley, they write.

A villager who said he found his body details the scene. 'He had been hit by so many bullets that one couldn't recognise him. Blood, organs, stomach, all was torn apart. His brains had come out of his head.'

The authors believe Iqbal's house was a target due to the activities of his son, and that it 'seems likely' the SAS were part of the decision to track Iqbal down the valley.

ABDUL QAYOOM, SON OF IQBAL

Abdul Qayoom, who was not related to the other Abdul Qayoom but was another son of Mohammad Iqbal, is also said to have been killed by Apache pilots.

An unnamed Kiwi officer involved in the raid was upset with this targeting of family-members of insurgents, the book details.

'Imagine someone kills a police officer here in Auckland,' the source told the authors,' and he's hiding out in his home with his partner and children. It would be outrageous for the New Zealand police to arrive and shoot at everyone all around. They'd never do that.

'They'd be legally accountable. They'd be prosecuted. So why is it OK in Afghanistan against Afghans and not in New Zealand?'

In total, it's estimated that more than 31,000 civilians have died in the Afghanistan War.