Abuse photos 'faked in TA barracks'

Photographs allegedly showing British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners were faked in a UK Territorial Army barracks, it was claimed today.

Sources told the Daily Telegraph that the images were staged in a Bedford MK lorry at Kimberley Barracks in Preston, Lancashire, apparently by members of the TA.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon admitted last night that the controversial pictures published in the Daily Mirror appeared "increasingly like a hoax".

Mirror editor Piers Morgan said the newspaper did not accept that the Ministry of Defence had proved that the photographs - one of which appeared to show a soldier urinating on a prisoner and striking him with a rifle - were faked.

An MoD spokeswoman described the barracks claim today as "totally speculative".
"The information is not from an official source," she said.

"It's one individual giving his opinion. I don't know whether it's true or not.
"The Special Investigation Branch are conducting a report. They have not concluded their report so we're unable to comment."

Kimberley Barracks is home to the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers - the local Territorial Army infantry unit for Lancashire and Cumbria.

Interviewed on Channel 4 News, Mr Hoon said: "Certainly, that is the evidence that we have, that this particular truck was not in Iraq.

"It is now really a matter for the Daily Mirror to indicate whether they are willing to cooperate, as they said they would do, in now investigating what looks increasingly like a hoax."

Asked whether he took the same attitude to the other photographs used by the Mirror, Mr Hoon said: "As far as the photographs published in the Mirror are concerned, I take them together. And certainly I think it is important that the Mirror now answer why it is that they have perpetrated this hoax."

Asked whether he was saying that the pictures were fakes, Mr Hoon said: "Well, it appears to be the case, yes."

Mr Hoon's comments followed a statement to the Commons in which he said the Special Investigation Branch had told him there were "strong indications" that the vehicle in which the pictures were taken was not in Iraq at the relevant time.

In his statement yesterday, Mr Morgan said: "The Daily Mirror does NOT accept that the MoD has proved these photographs are faked.

"Nor will we accept that they are not genuine images until incontrovertible evidence is produced to the contrary."