FBI finds Blackwater Iraq shootings unjustified, report says
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Nov 15, 2007, 11:51:30 AM11/15/07
to rowantree
FBI finds Blackwater Iraq shootings unjustified, report says
Associated Press
Wednesday November 14, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The shootings of 14 of the 17 Iraqi civilians killed by Blackwater
security personnel in a September confrontation were unjustified and
violated rules on the use of deadly force, according to a newspaper
report.
Citing civilian and military officials briefed on the case, the New
York Times reported on its website last night that the US justice
department was reviewing the findings of the FBI, which was continuing
to investigate the incident in Baghdad on September 16.
No evidence supported assertions by Blackwater employees that they
were fired upon by Iraqi civilians, the Times reported.
It said the FBI had concluded that three of the deaths may have been
justified under rules that allow lethal force in response to an
imminent threat.
Investigators concluded that as many as five of Blackwater guards
opened fire during the shootings, the newspaper said.
One guard has become the focus of the investigation, the Times
reported, because that guard was responsible for several deaths.
A government official familiar with the investigation told the
Associated Press that no conclusions had been reached about any of the
fatalities. A US state department official said he was not aware that
the department had been informed of any findings. Both requested
anonymity because the investigation was continuing.
A Blackwater spokeswoman, Anne Tyrrell, said the company "supports the
stringent accountability of the industry".
She said: "If it is determined that one person was complicit in the
wrongdoing, we would support accountability in that. The key people in
this have not spoken with investigators."
Blackwater has said its convoy was attacked before its personnel
opened fire, but an Iraqi government investigation concluded that the
shootings were unprovoked.
State department officials have said it has offered limited immunity
to private security contractors involved in shootings in Iraq. They
disagreed with law enforcement officials that such actions could
jeopardise prosecutions in the September 16 incident.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2210717,00.html
Associated Press
Wednesday November 14, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The shootings of 14 of the 17 Iraqi civilians killed by Blackwater
security personnel in a September confrontation were unjustified and
violated rules on the use of deadly force, according to a newspaper
report.
Citing civilian and military officials briefed on the case, the New
York Times reported on its website last night that the US justice
department was reviewing the findings of the FBI, which was continuing
to investigate the incident in Baghdad on September 16.
No evidence supported assertions by Blackwater employees that they
were fired upon by Iraqi civilians, the Times reported.
It said the FBI had concluded that three of the deaths may have been
justified under rules that allow lethal force in response to an
imminent threat.
Investigators concluded that as many as five of Blackwater guards
opened fire during the shootings, the newspaper said.
One guard has become the focus of the investigation, the Times
reported, because that guard was responsible for several deaths.
A government official familiar with the investigation told the
Associated Press that no conclusions had been reached about any of the
fatalities. A US state department official said he was not aware that
the department had been informed of any findings. Both requested
anonymity because the investigation was continuing.
A Blackwater spokeswoman, Anne Tyrrell, said the company "supports the
stringent accountability of the industry".
She said: "If it is determined that one person was complicit in the
wrongdoing, we would support accountability in that. The key people in
this have not spoken with investigators."
Blackwater has said its convoy was attacked before its personnel
opened fire, but an Iraqi government investigation concluded that the
shootings were unprovoked.
State department officials have said it has offered limited immunity
to private security contractors involved in shootings in Iraq. They
disagreed with law enforcement officials that such actions could
jeopardise prosecutions in the September 16 incident.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2210717,00.html
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