Skip to main content

MI6 reports own officer over torture claims

  • Story Highlights
  • British police asked to probe claims of torture involving UK intelligence officer
  • Secret Intelligence Service -- known as MI6 -- reported own officer over case
  • Parliamentary body has called for independent investigation into torture claims
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police in London said Friday they are investigating an allegation of torture involving a British intelligence officer.

The Metropolitan Police said it was asked by the attorney general to investigate the case. The British Secret Intelligence Service -- also known as MI6 -- referred the case to the attorney general, the police said.

"It is very important that any such allegations are thoroughly investigated," said William Hague, the foreign affairs spokesman of the opposition Conservative Party. "Torture or complicity in torture is unacceptable, immoral, and counterproductive."

Hague urged the government last month to look into allegations of torture of detainees at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Egypt, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.

His request followed a report from Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights that recommended an independent investigation into the allegations.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday that the British government "wholeheartedly" condemns torture.

"We will not condone it," he wrote in a letter responding to Hague. "Neither will we ever ask others to do it on our behalf. This is not mere rhetoric but a principled stance consistent with our unequivocal commitment to human rights. We are fortunate to have the best security and intelligence services and armed forces in the world. We are all safer because of the work they do with integrity and bravery."

Police released no other details about the new case they are investigating, except to say it is unrelated to that of Binyam Mohamed, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee who alleges British security agents colluded in his being tortured at the detention facility.

Mohamed's case already is under police investigation.

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print