MoD faces serious questions over Libyan troops sex assault charges








Credit: ITV NewsBy Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship

The Ministry of Defence has serious questions to answer after a series of allegations of sexual assaults surfaced in Cambridgeshire.
It is claimed they all happened near a military base where 330 members of the Libyan Army were being trained by UK forces.
Three Libyans from Bassingbourn Barracks have been charged with sexual assaults on three women in Market Square in Cambridge.
Two men from the barracks have been charged with the rape of a man in Christ's Pieces in Cambridge.
There were a further 6 incidents of sexual assault reported on October 17 for which no charges have yet been brought.
As a result the Ministry of Defence is sending the whole contingent home.
The scheme of mentoring the Libyan forces in the UK is now being scrapped.



Credit: ITV News

The Libyan soldiers had been banned from leaving the barracks after the first set of allegations were made in October 17.
But despite members of The Royal Regiment of Scotland being drafted in to guard the base, sources at the MoD admit many Libyans were able to get past the perimeter.
Up to 2,000 members of personnel from Libya were expected to be trained there, as part of a programme announced by the former Foreign Secretary, William Hague in July last year.
The base which has been earmarked for closure - was refitted, at a cost to the Libyan government, to accommodate the soldiers.
The first contingent had competed 21 of their 24 weeks training but they will be sent home 'within the next few days', according to defence sources from RAF Brize Norton.
Two of them have applied for asylum.
Labour says the programme has collapsed in "disarray and scandal."

More: Residents say Libyan soldiers have been seen frequently off base

Last updated Tue 4 Nov 2014
http://www.itv.com/news/2014-11-04/m...sault-charges/