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Afghan families demand Prince Harry’s trial over killings revelation

In his book of memoirs, the duke of Sussex revealed that he killed 25 people as an Apache copter pilot in Afghanistan

Anadolu Agency January 16, 2023

A view of the copies of Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare' on display at a bookshop in central London on the day of its official release in London, United Kingdom on January 10, 2023. In the highly anticipated memoir, the Duke of Sussex recalls the tragic death of his mother Princess Diana, and tells his story of life within the Royal Family and his marriage to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY

KABUL/ HELMAND:

Afghan families have called for Prince Harry to be put on trial after he admitted to killing 25 people during his time fighting in Afghanistan for the UK military.

In his book of memoirs, titled Spare, Harry, the duke of Sussex, revealed that he killed 25 people as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. He said that he did not think of them as "people," but instead as "chess pieces" that had been taken off the board.

The prince’s comments drew sharp criticism from people in Afghanistan.

Harry – who served in Afghanistan first as a forward air controller in air raids from 2007-2008, then flying the attack helicopter between 2012-2013 – carried out his military duty at the British base Camp Bastion in the Helmand province of the country.

Families who lost their loved ones in the airstrikes in the Sangin district of Helmand province said that those people were not rebels or terrorists, they were ordinary Afghans.

Also read: Taliban criticise Prince Harry over Afghan killings comment

Hamdullah Alizai, 45, a resident of the Sangin district, said that in August 2008, the British Air Force carried out attacks on their settlements, killing 27 people including his father and 15-year-old brother.

"We were devastated then and we had hard days. We strongly condemn Prince Harry's statements. We demand that he be put on trial and punished,” Alizay stressed.

Mohammed Alizai, 38, another resident, said he lost his then-23-year-old newly engaged brother in the attacks.

He recalled that they had to bury some bodies in different villages for fear of bombardment.

Habibul Rahman Noorzai, 38, whose father, uncle and 20-year-old brother were killed in the attacks, said: “British and foreign soldiers committed many atrocities here. We want them to be brought to justice.”