UK committee says Britain knew of US prisoner mistreatment

A UK parliamentary committee concludes it is beyond doubt that British intelligence agencies knew the United States was mistreating people detained after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

A report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee finds Britain knew of the mistreatment at an early stage and that “more could have been done” by authorities to attempt to influence American behavior.

The report shows that in 198 cases, British authorities received intelligence obtained from detainees whom they knew — or should have suspected — had been mistreated.

In 232 cases, UK personnel continued to supply questions or intelligence to allies after they knew or suspected mistreatment, the report says.

The committee acknowledges that British authorities didn’t want to risk losing access to vital intelligence during frenetic efforts at the time to prevent another attack. But the seriousness of Britain’s position was “slow to dawn,” it says.

The agencies appeared to be “deliberately turning a blind eye so as not to damage the relationship and risk the flow of intelligence; if the agencies started raising concerns, the US could have refused UK officers access to the detainees and stopped passing on any intelligence they obtained,” it says.

— AP