Four Brit soldiers filmed shooting at a target of Jeremy Corbyn ‘face court martial after being flown home for breaking Army’s strict disciplinary code’
FOUR British soldiers filmed shooting at a target of Jeremy Corbyn “face court martial” after being flown home for breaking Army’s strict disciplinary code, says a report.
The Army has been condemned over a viral video showing paratroopers using a picture of the Labour leader’s face for target practice.
The Mail on Sunday reports that four soldiers face the sack for breaching the Army’s disciplinary codes – for bringing the Army into disrepute.
It adds that sources “close to the investigation” said each soldier involved, ranking from private to corporal, has a clean record.
An initial investigation has reportedly failed to find any evidence of links to fascist or far-Right political groups, the Mail adds.
The troops in the video have been flown home from Afghanistan to speak with Army bosses.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence today declined to comment on the possible court martial action.
When the footage went viral after it was posted on social media, the British Army confirmed a full investigation was launched.
The short video shows four Paras wearing maroon berets opening fire on a picture of the Labour leader’s face.
It was taken at an indoor range in Afghanistan several days ago and involved troops from 3 Para, sources said.
REPUTATION ‘DAMAGED’
The military’s reputation has been damaged by claims of illegal and “downright unacceptable” conduct including an alleged sexual assault, the head of the British Army admitted.
Chief of the General Staff General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith laid down the law to his troops in an extraordinary video message – posted to YouTube – after, in a separate incident, six British Army troops were arrested over an alleged attack on a teenage female soldier.
Saying that the army’s reputation had been “damaged” by both scandals, Gen Carleton-Smith, 55, said the latest allegations were “downright unacceptable”.
He fumed: “This hasn’t been a good week for the Army. It has damaged our reputation, which is exceptionally hard-earned and includes the sacrifice of our friends on the battlefield.”
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was left “horrified” by the claims and has launched a review of behaviour across the military, reports the Press Association.
The intervention by the Cabinet minister and the military top brass came after the Sun reported that six Army sports club members had been held over a serious sex attack on a sleeping 17-year-old female soldier.
The teenager is said to have told superiors she woke to find the men – one a staff sergeant – standing over her.
Mr Williamson said he was “horrified to hear of these allegations”.
He added: “There is no place for these kind of actions in the military and, if true, those involved must be dealt with.
“I have commissioned a review into inappropriate behaviour in the military with a view to stamping it out.”
‘HAPPY WITH THAT’
Mr Corbyn said that he was “shocked” by the target practice footage filmed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
He said: “I hope the Ministry of Defence will conduct an inquiry into it and find out what was going on and who did that.”
The video shows the soldiers pulling their pistols from holsters before firing bullets out of shot.
As the camera pans out, the target is revealed as a bullet-ridden photo of Corbyn that appears to have been taken from the Labour party conference.
A message reading “happy with that” can be seen on the footage, which has been viewed more than 10,000 times.
Insiders said the Paras were using “sim-unition” training bullets, not live rounds.
The bullets are hardened wax paint balls and not metal. The non-lethal rounds are used for cheap target practise.
The gun range is used to train “guardian angels” – the soldiers who stand guard on comrades conducting training with Afghan forces.
It was brought in after a number of deadly insider attacks on British troops.
ARMY PROBE
Sources said a range of images are used at the facility to keep squaddies entertained.
It comes days after an elderly Para was told he would face charges over deaths on Bloody Sunday.
Corbyn has been a vocal supporter of the IRA and is a known pacifist. The video emerged the day after PM Theresa May said she would go to Corbyn and ask for help breaking the Brexit deadlock.
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Soldiers are supposed to be politically neutral.
An Army spokesperson said. “We are aware of a video circulating on social media, this behaviour is totally unacceptable and falls well below the high standards the army expects.
“A full investigation has been launched.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This behaviour is alarming and unacceptable. We have confidence in the MoD to investigate and act on this incident.”
