US soldiers 'killed Afghan civilians for sport and collected fingers as trophies'

[9 September 2010] Soldiers face charges over secret 'kill team' which allegedly murdered at random and collected fingers as trophies of war. Twelve American soldiers face charges over a secret "kill team" that allegedly blew up and shot Afghan civilians at random and collected their fingers as trophies. Five of the soldiers are charged with murdering three Afghan men who were allegedly killed for sport in separate attacks this year. Seven others are accused of covering up the killings and assaulting a recruit who exposed the murders when he reported other abuses, including members of the unit smoking hashish stolen from civilians. In one of the most serious accusations of war crimes to emerge from the Afghan conflict, the killings are alleged to have been carried out by members of a Stryker infantry brigade based in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan.

Christopher Bollyn: Afghan War News Shock - Norwegian and U.S. Soldiers Kill for Thrills.
Information Clearing House: Killing For Sport: Confession Video -US Soldier Describes Thrill Kill of Innocent Afghans (Video)
The Olympian: Grisly details in charges against soldiers
Seattle Times: Stryker soldiers allegedly took corpses' fingers

WSWS: Military hearings on Afghanistan “kill team” begin Testimony Monday centered on Specialist Jeremy Morlock, 22, who faces three charges of premeditated murder. Along with the four other soldiers who participated in the killings, he could face the death penalty if convicted. All five of the soldiers deny the charges. According to the Army charge sheet, Morlock was involved in murders committed in a four-month period earlier this year. On January 15, Gul Mudin was killed “by means of throwing a fragmentary grenade at him and shooting him with a rifle,” which Morlock and Pfc. Andrew Holmes, 19, carried out under the direction of Gibbs. Morlock is also charged with involvement in the murders of Marach Agha on February 22 and Mullah Adahdad on May 2, along with Gibbs, 22-year-old Spc. Adam Winfield, and 29-year-old Spc. Michael Wagnon II. After the victims were killed, “drop weapons” not of US origin were placed at the scene to make it look as though the men were insurgents. Morlock faces five other charges, including conspiracy to commit premeditated murder, assaulting another soldier, using hashish, violating a lawful general order, and trying to impede an investigation. (See, “The twelve soldiers charged in atrocity and cover-up”)