Scotland’s top prosecutor will ask police to conduct an urgent inquiry into new claims about CIA planes transferring people to “secret prison and torture destinations” via Scottish airports.
An academic study claims to have discovered “conclusive” evidence of so-called rendition flights landing in Scotland.
The study will now be the subject of police consideration, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland told MSPs on Wednesday.
“It is very important that there should be no dilly-dallying in this matter. I am confident that the police will conduct a thorough inquiry,” he said.
“The use of torture cannot be condoned. It is against international law and contrary to the common law of Scotland.
“A police inquiry was conducted into allegations of extraordinary rendition at Scottish airports in 2007 and 2008. Following the inquiry the police concluded that there was insufficient credible and reliable information to enable them to commence a criminal investigation.
“I’m aware of the information provided by the rendition project by researchers at Kent and Kingston universities. I consider that this information, and any other information additional to that considered by the police in 2007, should be the subject of police consideration. I will thereafter ask Police Scotland to give consideration to this information.”
But he advised that police will require a high standard of proof for criminal proceedings to be brought.