Australian Federal Police are investigating several SAS (Australian Special Forces) soldiers for allegedly committing war crimes in Afghanistan during Australia’s 12-year military involvement in the conflict.

SAS insiders told the Sydney Morning Herald that “horrendous things” had occurred in Afghanistan. “Some just disgraceful things happened,” said the insider. “It was pretty much kept under wraps.”

Human Rights Watch has provided detailed allegations against the SAS for their role in war crimes in Afghanistan. “One soldier shot dead an elderly unarmed man in an initiation ritual,” says the report. “Another kicked a handcuffed Afghan civilian off a cliff and then executed him. Other soldiers removed a man’s prosthetic leg and took it back to Perth to use as a souvenir drinking vessel.”

Allegations have been present since June, when SAS soldiers allegedly plotted to silence witnesses for an inquiry against them.

“The inquiry process must not be undermined,” said Andrew Hastie, a Liberal MP who served in Afghanistan.