Home > ’Trophy’ video exposes private security contractors shooting up Iraqi drivers

’Trophy’ video exposes private security contractors shooting up Iraqi drivers

by Open-Publishing - Monday 28 November 2005
27 comments

Wars and conflicts International

A "trophy" video appearing to show security guards in Baghdad randomly shooting Iraqi civilians has sparked two investigations after it was posted on the internet, the Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

The video has sparked concern that private security companies, which are not subject to any form of regulation either in Britain or in Iraq, could be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent Iraqis.

The video, which first appeared on a website that has been linked unofficially to Aegis Defence Services, contained four separate clips, in which security guards open fire with automatic rifles at civilian cars. All of the shooting incidents apparently took place on "route Irish", a road that links the airport to Baghdad.

The road has acquired the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous in the world because of the number of suicide attacks and ambushes carried out by insurgents against coalition troops. In one four-month period earlier this year it was the scene of 150 attacks.

In one of the videoed attacks, a Mercedes is fired on at a distance of several hundred yards before it crashes in to a civilian taxi. In the last clip, a white civilian car is raked with machine gun fire as it approaches an unidentified security company vehicle. Bullets can be seen hitting the vehicle before it comes to a slow stop.

There are no clues as to the shooter but either a Scottish or Irish accent can be heard in at least one of the clips above Elvis Presley’s Mystery Train, the music which accompanies the video.

Last night a spokesman for defence firm Aegis Defence Services - set up in 2002 by Lt Col Tim Spicer, a former Scots Guards officer - confirmed that the company was carrying out an internal investigation to see if any of their employees were involved.

The Foreign Office has also confirmed that it is investigating the contents of the video in conjunction with Aegis, one of the biggest security companies operating in Iraq. The company was recently awarded a £220 million security contract in Iraq by the United States government. Aegis conducts a number of security duties and helped with the collection of ballot papers in the country’s recent referendum

Lt Col Spicer, 53, rose to public prominence in 1998 when his private military company Sandlines International was accused of breaking United Nations sanctions by selling arms to Sierra Leone.

The video first appeared on the website www.aegisIraq.co.uk. The website states: "This site does not belong to Aegis Defence Ltd, it belongs to the men on the ground who are the heart and soul of the company." The clips have been removed.

The website also contains a message from Lt Col Spicer, which reads: "I am concerned about media interest in this site and I remind everyone of their contractual obligation not to speak to or assist the media without clearing it with the project management or Aegis London.

"Refrain from posting anything which is detrimental to the company since this could result in the loss or curtailment of our contract with resultant loss for everybody."

Security companies awarded contracts by the US administration in Iraq adopt the same rules for opening fire as the American military. US military vehicles carry a sign warning drivers to keep their distance from the vehicle. The warning which appears in both Arabic and English reads "Danger. Keep back. Authorised to use lethal force." A similar warning is also displayed on the rear of vehicles belonging to Aegis.

Capt Adnan Tawfiq of the Iraqi Interior Ministry which deals with compensation issues, has told the Sunday Telegraph that he has received numerous claims from families who allege that their relatives have been shot by private security contractors travelling in road convoys.

He said: "When the security companies kill people they just drive away and nothing is done. Sometimes we ring the companies concerned and they deny everything. The families don’t get any money or compensation. I would say we have had about 50-60 incidents of this kind."

A spokesman for Aegis Defence Services, said: "There is nothing to indicate that these film clips are in any way connected to Aegis."

Last night a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Aegis have assured us that there is nothing on the video to suggest that it has anything to do with their company. This is now a matter for the American authorities because Aegis is under contract to the United States."

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– http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...

Forum posts

  • It makes me wonder how many of these road side attacks by "insurgents" are in fact by contracters, to insure that the war continues.

  • There is a longer video of how these security gunners, the so-called "trunk monkeys," operate at tomgriffin.typepad.com. Apparently, while enroute to Baghdad airport, the gunner fired on any vehicle that closed to within 200 meters of the security vehicle with devastating results.

  • But you know, through it all, in the end Iraq will make out correctly. Though, there has been a great loss of it national treasures... There, will find many for future generations. The greatest pity is the loss of Islamic text that were unique. No one seems to think of these at the moment — or at least no one in the public. But I am sure that the leaders of the USA and UK are intensly aware of this and are extremely pleased.

    The Iraqi peoples are strong and powerful and will gravitate to their focus in a short time. There are not now far removed from the focus, and thus, the constant killing and mayhem has to be imjposed on them.

    The USA and UK have totally underestimated this unique focus of the Iraqis.

    But be that as it may, the thought of war is still projected onto Iraq by the public at large... Shame that neither peoples of the USA and UK realise the value of the thoughts and artifacts of the past and present peoples of Iraq. Most, if any, in the USA are fixated on the 2000 or so Americans killed (as advertized) and not anything beyond.

    Shame.

  • I am a New Zealander who has been working as a security operative in Iraq since Oct 7 2003.

    I just watched the video.

    My initial reaction was "so what".

    The first half of the second shooting is a bit iffy, but the rest is justified.

    PSD vehicles in Iraq usually have signs on the back in both arabic and english saying things like "don’t come close"or "stay back 100 metres".

    You would understand the reasoning behind this tactic if you’d seen a vehicle pull up beside or behind a convoy and explode.

    The amount of indiscriminate death I’ve seen perpetrated in this country, the majority of which has been Iraqi vs Iraqi, is mind-boggling.

    The "Rules Of Engagement" which all security contractors are guided by states that "if you in any way feel that your life, or the lives of your comrades, are in mortal danger, you are able to defend yourself with any means available.

    I’ve seen enough in Iraq to know that what these guys did was definately not wrong. It more than likely saved their lives.

    Kiwi
    2/1 Battalion, RNZIR

    • Shouldn’t be there.

      Iraq for the Iraqis, not greedy mercenary parasites.

    • I’m not a mercenary.

      To paraphrase the English Oxford dictionary, a mercenary is a civlian doing a job that a soldier can, or should, do.

      I’m a civilian working for a American civilian humanitarian de-mining company as a security operative, safeguarding internationals that are pulling landmines out of Iraqi soil, making it safe for Iraqi civilians to process the land, so as to make a new living as farmers.

      My job is helping Iraq become safer for it’s next generations’.

      You call me a mercenary. I call you extremely uneducated.

      Live in my boots before you comment about my world.

      Kiwi.

      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR.

      Proud To Be Working To Build A Safer And More Secure Iraqi Nation.

    • Kiwi, you say you are a civilian and not a mercenary, but your sign off includes a military unit. I don’t get that. I’m a former soldier, but I never use my former unit as part of a sign off. Why? Because I am now a civilian. Are you confused about your status? You sound like para-military to me, which is a mercenary in anyone’s book.

    • Confused - No.

      After serving in the internationally recogised 2/1 for 23 years and retiring as a Warrant Officer Class One, I earned the right to be proud of of my service.

      I use my battalion in my sign off to let others know that, even though I am know a civilian, I am proud to have served.

      Kiwi WOI Rtd
      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR

    • Maybe one day there will be an Arab force in New Zealand because they fancied a ’regime change’ and we’ll have a ’trophy video’ of Iraqi ’contractors’ shooting up civilian New Zealand cars.

      We’ll then have a posting from an Iraqi ’aid worker’ whose reaction will also be ’so what?’

      I look forward to that day.

    • How much you getting paid as a ’Security Operative’ then ??

    • Kiwi - Confused, yes. You are a civilian. You are a hired gun. You are a mercenary. Why not stand behind that title, rather than try to rationalize it away?

    • Once again ridiculous commentary from an uneducated individual.

      If you had seen daily life in Iraq for the last two years like I had, you would given more thought to your words.

      I made no inclination as to whether I was for or against the US led invasion.

      Just for the record I was against.

      I will tell you once again what I do. I help provide security for people pulling landmines out of the ground.

      Landmines that kill and maim Iraqi’s everyday.

      It is a fact that if these deminers did not have security watching after them, they would end up like Nick Berg or Kim Sun Il or any of the others that have been publically beheaded. For every non-Iraqi that has been beheaded, there have been 3 times as many locals murdered as brutally. Not by the Coalition however, but by Iraqi’s slaughtering their own people.

      As far you "looking forward to the day that New Zealanders cars will be shot up", you must be an inane person to make such a comment and you really do have no idea about what goes on here. All you know is from what you see on the television or what you digest from the world wide web.

      Within the last couple of days there were four peace activists kidnapped in Iraq. They were here to "support the local population that have suffered at the hands of the Coalition". Pity they didn’t have the sense that God gave them to realise that ANY non-Iraqi is fair game for kidnapping. I’d bet good money that we see at least one of those peaceniks on the net having their head sawed off with a short bladed knife.

      As far as the trophy video, go on the net and do a search for videos of VBIED’s. Watch a few of these and then disagree with the tactics of the PSD team.

      Do more homework. Learn your lessons and then give it another try.

      I’m not interested in getting into a pissing contest with anybody, but if you’re going to attempt to engage in any type of reteric, do your best to not lower yourself to childish comments and try to say something that makes sense.

      Kiwi
      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR

    • Why would I stand behind a title that does not apply?.

      I am not a civilian doing a soldier’s job.

      I am a civilian doing a civilian’s jobs.

      Look at the job description. Enough said.

      In the conflict in Former Yugoslavia there were mercenaries.

      In the current conflict in Iraq there are also mercenaries.

      However, they are being called Islamist Foreign Fighters and they are supplying weapons, explosives and tactics to the people fighting against the Coalition.

      Once again, not interested in a pissing contest.

      Kiwi
      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR

    • Call me cynical but presumably the remuneration appealed before any sense of ’humanitarian’ altruism ?

    • You’re cynical.

      Possibly because of your lack of knowledge or faith in mankind.

      Kiwi.
      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR

    • I wouldn’t go to Iraq clearing up for a murderous Bush, for any amount of filthy blood money even if it was dressed up as ’humanitarian’.

      Still, as long as you sleep nights.

    • Who laid the land mines in the first place ?

    • The reguritated verbage in your commentary give an indication as to the level of your naivety.

      You should do your best to make expressions based on your first hand knowledge, rather than what someone else has fed you.

      Free your mind and the rest will follow.

      That’s what the Iraqi people are now able to do. Free their minds.

      Agree with Bush or not, at least the people have a chance to forge their own destiny rather than be slaves and forever led by their noses.

      Come to Iraq. Talk to the 100+ Iraqi’s I work with everyday.

      The feeling for the future here is positive.

      The Iraqi’s here don’t care about the reasoning behind the war. They care that Saddam is gone and that they now have a chance.

      Your negativity and those like you would have kept these people under Saddams yoke for many more years to come.

      With time I hope that you will realise that what was done, needed to be done.

      Irrespective of political bias.

      Last sermon from me. I’ll leave you to your pro-dictatorial machinations.

      Oh, as far as "Who laid the landmines". Saddam’s Army did during the Iraq-Iran war. With Italian technology. Not US, but European help.

      Kiwi
      2/1 Battalion, RNZIR.

    • The 10 year Iran Iraq war was fuelled by the US supplying weapons including landmines to keep both sides delicately balanced. Basically the West sell the weapons, clear the cheque, and loads of brown people kill each other.

      The contract ’won’ by your security operation is almost certainly being paid for out of Iraqi coffers.
      But I apologise if what you’re doing is for the good of Iraqi people, and not motivated by cash.

    • ’’The Iraqi’s here don’t care about the reasoning behind the war. They care that Saddam is gone and that they now have a chance’’

      Doubt if the ones that talk to a Western ’’Security Personnel’’ are going to say any different. The fact remains that 95% of Iraqis want the US and their hangers on OUT.

      I doubt you’d like Iraqi ’Security Personnel’ loitering around the streets of New Zealand shooting up cars either.

    • "With time I hope that you will realize that what was done, needed to be done."- Kiwi

      By that statement, I take it that you mean Saddam the Dictator had to be removed for the sake of the Iraqi people and their democratic aspirations. Never mind all of the other phoney reasons that were proffered for his removal - WMDs, involvement in 911, etc - but, let’s just go with the most "noble" reason, i.e., freeing the Iraqi people from the clutches of this murderous tyrant.

      If this is what the Coalition of the Willing is really all about, why aren’t these liberating legions also marching against all of those other tyrants that pollute this planet and keep their people cowed and enslaved?

      When will these Just legions, these bringers of Freedom move against Niyazov of Turkmenistan, Mogabe of Zimbabwe, al-Bashir of Sudan, Kim Jong Il of North Korea, Than Shwe of Myannmar, Hu Jintao of the PRC, Colonel Qaddafi of Libya, Musharref of Pakistan, Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Castro of Cuba and Prince Abdullah of Saudia Arabia? When will they march?

      PS: FYI - some of those land mines were laid to thwart the illegal invasion in 2003 by your noble legions. I’m wondering why you left that out?

    • i hope they stick phosphorous lamps up your ass
      allah huakbar allah huakbar allah huakbar

    • No doubt , when the Iraqi minds have been sufficiently freed, the U.S. , Brits , Aussies and "kiwi security" will all clear out, dismantling the air bases and returning control of the oil 100% to the new democratic state of Iraq, which will follow only the will of it’s free people. No doubt.

    • The U.S. still has not outlawed the use of land-mines.Like the death penalty,most other civilized societies have long since realised that there is something sub- human in these instruments of death.

    • Iraq never had to be invaded at all to bring about positive change. All of the death and needless ’shock and awe’ bombing was simply to destroy for mainly U.S. corporate economic benefits and to terrorize the citizens enough so they would submit to the will of Caesar Bush. It is interesting to see a war for resources and bases as usual attempted to be couched in "freedom and democracy" as most every war is. This is a war on the citizens of Iraq, tens of thousands of innocents murdered with no end in sight. The Neo_con Oil Cartel has invited itself to stay FOREVER and drink of the oil until it’s dry (once they get full control) The uninvited ’guest’ that never leaves and pays the tab with the blood of Americans and innocent Iraqis and hundreds of billions of wasted and stolen citizens’ money.

    • Mercenaries coming on here trying to whitewash their conscience ?? Good Lord, whatever next.