Mirror abuse photos not taken in Iraq, says minister

The Daily Mirror's photographs of alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by British troops were not taken in Iraq, the Government announced today.

The Daily Mirror's photographs of alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by British troops were not taken in Iraq, the Government announced today.

The Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram told the Commons that a Royal Military Police inquiry had found the truck in which the pictures were taken was never in Iraq.

This had been "independently corroborated," he said. "These pictures were categorically not taken in Iraq."

Those involved in taking the photographs "may have committed criminal offences under military law, which are the proper subject of on-going investigations by the RMP".

The Daily Mirror has repeatedly insisted that the photographs were genuine, despite questions about their authenticity after publication around two weeks ago.

One of the photographs appeared to show a soldier from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment urinating on a prisoner.

Another allegedly showed the captive being struck in the groin with a rifle butt.