Military police investigate claims two officer cadets 'waterboarded' recruit at Sandhurst

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Military police have launched an investigation into claims two officer cadets “waterboarded” a fellow recruit at Sandhurst academy.

The pair are alleged to have pinned down the victim and poured water over a cloth covering his face, a torture technique which creates the sensation of drowning.

Brigadier Bill Wright, commander of the military college in Berkshire, has ordered a probe into the incident, said to have taken place on 7 August.

The three cadets involved have been moved into separate platoons while the claims are investigated, The Sun reported.

Both Prince William and Prince Harry attended Sandhurst, where all officers in the British Army are trained.

Brig Wright said: “I am aware of allegations about an incident at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on August 7 involving some of our officer cadets.

“I have ordered an investigation by the Royal Military Police.

“The Army and I expect the highest standards of behaviour at Sandhurst; anyone found to have fallen short is dealt with robustly, including dismissal, if appropriate.”

The head of the Army, General Sir Nicholas Carter, introduced a new code of conduct three years ago in a bid to stamp out bullying.

He told Sandhurst cadets there would “no tolerance” of unacceptable behaviour.

Waterboarding was notoriously used by the CIA to interrogate suspects following the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.

This year it emerged MI5 and MI6, the British intelligence agencies, had put questions to prisoners who they knew had been waterboarded by American interrogators.

The torture technique was banned in 2009 by then US president Barack Obama.