Probe after UK soldiers filmed shooting at picture of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
British soldiers who shot at a poster of Jeremy Corbyn showed “a serious error of judgment”.
British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he was shocked at footage showing a poster of his head being used for target practice in Afghanistan.
Four British soldiers, believed to be paratroopers, were videoed during training firing at a series of blank targets, and a poster with a picture of the head of Mr Corbyn.
Footage posted on social media showed members of the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan shooting at an image of Corbyn, Britain’s main opposition leader. Corbyn, a veteran socialist, has often been critical of British military campaigns overseas.
The camera then goes in closer to the picture showing that several of the soldiers had fired at the poster, hitting the target.
Army chief Brigadier Nick Perry from the 16 Air assault Brigade, confirmed the footage was authentic and that an investigation was underway. Brigadier Perry said the matter was being taken extremely seriously.
“The video shows totally unacceptable behaviour that falls far below the behaviour that we expect,” he said.
Mr Corbyn said he was shocked. “I hope the Ministry of Defence will conduct an inquiry into it and find out what was going on and who did that.”
Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the video was ‘’troubling’’, while another Conservative MP, Tom Tugendhat, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the video was “disgraceful”.
Video has emerged of soldiers on a shooting range in Kabul firing at a target of Jeremy Corbyn. MOD confirms it as legit: pic.twitter.com/qOr84Aiivj
— Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) April 3, 2019
Brigadier Perry said the “army is and always will be a totally apolitical organisation”.
The brigade has 400 troops in Afghanistan as part of a NATO deployment to train Afghan forces.
Labour defence spokeswoman Nia Griffith tweeted that the video was “shocking and completely unacceptable.” She said it was “right that the Army is carrying out a full investigation.”
VIDEO: Brig Nick Perry, Commanding Officer of @16AirAssltBde tells me the Corbyn target video shows “unacceptable behaviour†pic.twitter.com/S9HGjC25mn
— Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) April 3, 2019
Conservative politician Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier, said the video was “disgraceful.” British politicians have reported increased threats and fears for their safety amid heightened tensions over Brexit.
Last month, a man angry about Brexit was sentenced to 28 days in prison for hitting Corbyn with an egg.
In 2016, Labour politician Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist. A neo- Nazi was recently convicted of plotting to kill another Labour legislator.
with AP
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