Yard to probe deaths of 40 Iraqis

Detectives from Scotland Yard are to investigate the deaths of 40 more Iraqi civilians, the Evening Standard can reveal today.

Metropolitan Police homicide detectives will be asked to review the cases and help gather further evidence in connection with the deaths. A source close to the investigation said: "The arrest and charging of a British serviceman with murder is a test case.

"We have been made aware that up to 40 cases are to be passed to the Met for investigation, and we anticipate that further arrests will be made in connection with these deaths."

The charges will range from murder and manslaughter to assault. It is believed there is already enough evidence to charge the soldiers in nearly half the cases.

Some cases will be handed back to the Army to be tried by courts-martial, while others will be dealt with under civilian law. Further cases to be investigated include the death of 26-year-old Basa Mousa, who was allegedly beaten to death by British soldiers in Basra last year.

Detectives will also probe the death of primary school headteacher Abd Al-Jabbar Mossa, 53.

He died after being hit over the head with two empty rifle magazines in May 2003. A member of the Ba'ath Party, Mr Mossa was arrested after soldiers from the Black Watch regiment searched his home for weapons.

News of the further investigations comes after yesterday's arrest of Trooper Kevin Williams

The 21-year-old soldier from the 2nd Royal Tank regiment was held over the death of Hassan Said - a father of nine - in the southern Iraq city of Basra, where British troops are based.

Although the exact circumstances of Mr Said's death are being kept secret by the Army, he is believed to have been shot while being arrested by British troops.

He is alleged to have died from gunshot wounds to the chest after an encounter with soldiers investigating an altercation between two drivers.

Williams appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London yesterday and was given bail on condition that he resides at the Catterick garrison in North Yorkshire.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, became involved in the case four months ago after the charges were dismissed by the soldier's commanding officer. He was not tried by court-martial.

Lord Goldsmith is now expected to ask Scotland Yard to carry out further inquiries into 40 civilian deaths in Iraq.

Downing Street sources said that the Attorney General is expected to make a statement on the case, possibly this afternoon.

The Crown Prosecution Service will then decide if charges should be brought against the servicemen concerned.