QUESTIONS have been raised about claims by a former SAS sergeant turned TV star and author that he was involved in the “mercy killings” of Iraqi soldiers.

Sources have told a newspaper that Colin Maclachlan’s claims in his new book that he helped end the lives of wounded Iraqi troops 13 years ago were “utter b******t.”

The Times also alleged that former colleagues said he had misled the public by suggesting that he survived a hostage-taking and rescue in Iraq in 2003. It was also reported that questions were being raised about his claim to have spent between 10 and 12 years in the SAS.

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In the Iraqi soldiers’ incident, the 42-year-old from Edinburgh had claimed have faced the choice of either ending the soldiers’ suffering or leaving them to die slowly in agony.

He said the motives were “entirely humane” as the man were “pleading for us to do it” and were in ‘agony.’ Mr Maclachan, who appeared in Channel 4’s Who Dares Wins, added: “We also knew how we would have wanted to be treated in that situation. The crueller thing would have been to continue their suffering.”

He is facing an investigation by the military police into the claim.

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The Times reported that his former colleagues were challenging a claim he was one of two SAS members taken hostage in Basra in September 2005. Mr Maclachlan had claimed they were stripped and put through mock executions at rifle-point.

The Ministry of Defence said at the weekend it would investigate “credible allegations” of criminality.