Zero Hour (2004–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - SAS: Mission Impossible - full transcript

NARRATOR: The early hours
of 10th of September 2000

and Operation Barras is about to begin.

Commandos from Britain's
elite fighting force, the SAS,

are preparing to engage
in one of the boldest

rescue missions in modern history.

A mission so dangerous
that in the coming hour,

these soldiers expect severe casualties.

They will be flown deep into
the jungle of Sierra Leone,

West Africa.

In an attempt to release
British army hostages

held for more than two weeks.



The hostage-takers are
known as the West Side Boys.

A gang of notorious killers

who are well armed and ruthless.

What happens as the rescue attempt unfolds

has always been a closely guarded secret.

Now, the story of the SAS's mission

and the terrible days of
captivity endured by the hostages

is told on television for the first time

by the people who were there.

For one of the hostages,

it is a story of survival in a living hell.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Terrible really.

NARRATOR: It's daybreak
and many of the rebels



guarding the hostages are sleeping off

the effects of a night of heavy drinking.

They've emptied crates of beer

that had been supplied
by British negotiators

to make them a little less battle-ready.

But these will be no
push-overs for the SAS.

The gang is armed with
everything from AK-47s

to anti-aircraft artillery.

And many are hardened ex-soldiers

conditioned by countless
atrocities against men,

women and children.

MAN: One by one. One by one.

NARRATOR: The West Side Boys
are a relic of a merciless civil war

that had paralyzed Sierra
Leone through the 1990s,

leaving thousands dead or brutally maimed.

The ultimate prize was not
political power, but what came with it.

Control of the country's
rich diamond mines.

Murderous gangs like the West Side Boys

caused the international community
to fear the total collapse of the country.

We saw Sierra Leone threatened by

vicious thugs motivated

by criminality, by money, by power.

NARRATOR: In late August 2000,

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon

was faced with making
the high-risk decision

to send in troops to
attack the West Side Boys

and free their British captives.

HOON: The Chief of the Defense
Staff briefed me about the operation.

He could not rule out, uh, British deaths

and it was a difficult judgment
in the light of that advice

as to whether or not we should go ahead.

NARRATOR: It is the
17th day of imprisonment

for the six British army
hostages in the rebels' hands.

If it is a day like any other,

then these men of the First Battalion,

Royal Irish Regiment

could face a severe
beating or a mock execution.

Their commanding officer
is Major Alan Marshall.

It was his decision
that led to their capture

and only his ingenuity and quick thinking

that has kept his men alive

throughout the worst of their ordeal.

But nothing that's happened to the British

compares to the savagery unleashed
against Lieutenant Musa Bangura,

a military liaison officer
attached to Marshall's patrol.

He has routinely been beaten
and hacked to unconsciousness,

his terrible injuries left to
fester in the worst of conditions.

On the morning of the SAS rescue attempt,

Musa Bangura is close to death.

Operation Barras takes
flight in 10 minutes.

One of the first to be dropped
into the West Side Boys' stronghold

will be Bombardier Brad Tinnion.

This is his first combat
mission for the SAS.

But even for the most experienced commandos

the attack will be a leap
into unfamiliar territory.

The SAS is famed for its use of stealth,

attacking with the element of surprise.

But Operation Barras
will be a full-frontal assault

jumping from large, noisy
helicopters that are easy to shoot down,

into the heart of a camp
that is heavily defended.

The SAS mission is the
climax to a chain of events

that began 17 days earlier.

A routine convoy of three
British army Land Rovers

was returning to base near Freetown,

the capital of Sierra Leone.

The patrol consisted of 12 soldiers...

Eleven British and Musa Bangura,

then a lieutenant in the Sierra Leone Army.

NARRATOR: As the convoy approached
a roadblock manned by UN peacekeepers

Major Marshall was about to make a decision

that would haunt him
for the rest of his life.

To divert his patrol off its planned route.

Do you speak English?

(MUSA SPEAKING)

NARRATOR: Marshall and most of his patrol

still serve in the British army

and are unable to speak publicly.

However, the story of what happened next

has been pieced together

with the eye-witness
accounts of Musa Bangura,

and another key player,
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Fordham,

who was then Marshall's commanding officer.

FORDHAM: His liaison with the Jordanians

was valid, uh, he did
that for perfectly proper,

you know, viable military reasons.

And, uh, whatever Alan did
and does as a military officer

he does because he perceives

that to be the correct course of duty.

There's no question of
any map reading error.

There's no question of not
knowing what he was doing.

NARRATOR: The British patrol had entered
a territory known as the Occra Hills.

Musa Bangura knew immediately

that they were gambling with their lives,

in a place where extreme
violence had become a way of life.

Musa had good reason to be fearful.

Years earlier, he had
witnessed a failed mutiny

in the Sierra Leone Army.

The rebellious soldiers were thrown out,

but many had ganged together,

eventually calling themselves
the West Side Boys.

They were united by a common grudge,

especially against
serving military officers.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Please!

...right ahead.

I'll sort this out. Hold on!

Maybe just a road block.

Put your weapons down.

And figure out what this is.

GUNNER: This is not a road block.

What this is is a fucking disaster.

NARRATOR: The patrol's path was
cut off by a group of about 50 rebels

led by a commander called Contobie.

-Good morning. -CONTOBIE: Welcome.

-What's your mission? -British Army.

Here to invite your
men to attend re-training.

Wait a minute...

NARRATOR: Even by the horrific
standards of the West Side Boys,

Contobie was violent and unpredictable.

(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY OVER RADIO)

CONTOBIE: Okay.

You come without permission.

No. We're here to make you an offer.

To offer your men the chance to retrain...

You are here to take my men away.

No (SIGHS). This is a humanitarian mission.

We need to report on the
well-being of the villagers here.

We are very well. Thank you.

And who the fuck are you?

My name is Major Marshall.

We've been on patrol up to the
Jordanian UN post in Masiaka.

Why not stay on the highway?

All this is West Side territory.

We have a responsibility...

It's your responsibility
to do as you're told!

(GUN COCKS)

You shoot, you all die!

MARSHALL: Corporal!

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Order your men to hand over all weapons.

-Now. -We can't do that I'm afraid.

In the interest of safety
I'm going to ask my men

to put down their weapons.

They cannot surrender them.

I'm not debating you British Army.

Now.

Okay. Give me a moment to talk to my men.

I've got to ask you all to disengage
and hand over your weapons.

I'm sorry about this, everyone.

Just need to sort this
out. Shouldn't take long.

And we'll be back on our way.

Here.

Can we talk now?

Get their weapons and get their rings!

- Come, come. Come down.
- (INDISTINCT TALKING)

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Go! Move! Move!

(MUSA SPEAKING)

NARRATOR: Contobie
had first met Musa Bangura

when they trained together
in the Sierra Leone Army.

Now he was about to
renew their acquaintance

in the most brutal way imaginable.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Lieutenant Bangura.

So you brought the
British here to attack us?

No, I didn't... (GROANING)

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(MUSA GROANING)

NARRATOR: The British patrol was
taken across a wide river to Gberi Bana.

Once a peaceful village,

but now a West Side Boys stronghold.

(DOOR OPENING)

Oh, no, Musa. Jesus!

(DOOR CLOSING)

MARSHALL: You all right?

Listen. Listen.

They're going to be back soon.

I'm going to be first to die.

So try and negotiate your own release.

I won't let them kill you.

(DOOR OPENING)

Out!

Now! Now!

Move, move, move. Walk! Move.

Move!

NARRATOR: After standing
for hours in the hot afternoon sun,

the hostages had their first
encounter with the rebels' leader

Brigadier Foday Kallay.

He was an ex-army corporal,

and a notorious torturer and murderer.

Who is the commanding officer?

MARSHALL: I am.

What's your name?

Who the hell did this?

LAVERTY: Get your fucking hands off him...

Whoa! Whoa! Okay.
Okay. Captain, turn around.

Fucking relax now, will you?

Name?

Major Alan Marshall.

First Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.

And you are?

Foday Kallay.

Brigadier, West Side Boys.

Whose land you stand on.

You must release us at once.

And this man needs medical attention now.

You are my prisoners until
your freedom is negotiated.

Lock them up!

(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

-I'll find a place for him. -Move!

(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

MAN: Move! Move! Move!

(SPITS)

Lieutenant Musa Bangura...

NARRATOR: From now on,
Camp Commandant Contobie

was to personally supervise Musa's torture.

(GROANING)

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

NARRATOR: Musa's
induction was to be at the hands

of the West Side Boys' child soldiers,

some of them as young as eight.

(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(WATER TRICKLING)

NARRATOR: Musa regained
consciousness in a so-called dungeon,

in reality, one of the camp's latrine pits.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

NARRATOR: The SAS mission to
rescue Musa and the other hostages

is still eight minutes away from launch.

But members of a small reconnaissance team

are already embedded

at the very edge of the
West Side Boys' camp.

In deep camouflage,

they've been here, undetected,
for five days and nights.

They've eaten, slept and
worked while barely moving,

and under constant
assault from jungle insects

and the soaking tropical heat.

(GAGGING)

SAS AGENT 1: Just great.

Sierra Green Alpha. All quiet.

Everybody's sleeping off
the effects of the hooch.

-(STATIC CRACKLES) -SAS
AGENT 2: Roger that. Same here.

Sierra Green Beta.

SAS AGENT 1: All clear
round the target. Over.

NARRATOR: The SAS
observers have witnessed first-hand

some of the abuse endured by the hostages,

but have had to remain hidden,

unable to intervene.

But right now, the SAS rescuers

are preparing to board their Chinooks

for the short journey to
the West Side Boys' camp.

One way or another, the hostages'
ordeal will end within the coming hour.

(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Throughout their long days of captivity,

the British hostages have been trapped

in a brutal game of Russian roulette

with rebels whose violent behavior

was fuelled by drink and drugs.

But the target for their most savage abuse

was always Musa Bangura.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(GASPS)

NARRATOR: As usual,
Camp commandant Contobie

was on hand to oversee Musa's humiliation.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(SIGHS)

(LAUGHING)

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(GRUNTING)

NARRATOR: As the days passed,

Contobie's mood was
becoming increasingly volatile.

It would lead to one of the
most dangerous moments

of the British hostages' captivity.

Contobie was one of several
commanders vying with Foday Kallay

for control of the West Side Boys.

The presence of the British captives

gave him a chance to
exercise his growing power.

(CHAIN RATTLING)

CONTOBIE: Out.

Out!

Okay. Okay.

Come on, lads. Fresh air.

Now! Move!

Move!

Good morning, Brigadier!

Why did you speak?

Who gave you permission?

When you see me, you bow and say,

"Good morning, Commandant."

Good morning, Commandant.

Bow!

Bow to me like the British bow to Idi Amin.

You?

Good morning, Commandant.

FORDHAM: These people
were fuelled with drink and drugs.

And also fuelled with the
adrenaline and the agitation

of the situation that they had got.

And so, uh, on the one hand

they'd be perfectly plausible

and then, you know, a
couple of minutes later

they would be completely off the wall.

On your knees.

(GROANS)

FORDHAM: Major Marshall
really had to be careful

not to get frustrated with this

or lose his temper or react.

Because the only reaction would have been

that the West Sider would have
picked up his weapon and opened fire.

And put your hands on your head!

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Five! Six!

Seven! Eight!

Nine!

Ten! Eleven!

Remember your numbers.

You will be executed by your number!

-Ready to fire. -(GUNS COCK)

Condemned men are
entitled to a last request.

No?

And what will that be, Major?

A drink, Commandant.

We'd all like a drink.

Why not?

Go.

And bring enough for everyone.

NARRATOR: Marshall was desperately gambling

that Contobie couldn't
resist any excuse for alcohol.

FORDHAM: Marshall will probably remain

pretty tight-lipped about what
happened during that time.

Almost every day he came
across this kind of situation

and it reinforces this aspect

that his approach was to
resolve the situation successfully

and at times he was prepared to do it

at the prospective cost of his own life

in place of the men that
were with him as well.

NARRATOR: This time,
Marshall's quick-thinking worked.

Contobie walked away to his own
stash of alcohol and passed out.

The threat for now, was over.

But their lives would be in constant danger

until the hour of the SAS assault.

British helicopters have just
taken off for a 20 minute journey

to the West Side Boys' camp at Gberi Bana.

The small SAS observer team

hidden at the edge of the
camp will guide the Chinooks

to pre-arranged Landing Zones,

and provide covering fire
as the assault force arrives.

Meanwhile, the West Side Boys leader,

Foday Kallay remains asleep,

surrounded by stolen money,

cocaine and 830 uncut diamonds.

This horde makes Kallay one of
Sierra Leone's few millionaires.

But for all his wealth, Kallay's
authority is now at its lowest.

Many of the rebels intend to defy him

and hold on to the captives

to extract a higher price
from British negotiators.

(CHAIN RATTLING)

(SIGHS)

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

(WHISPERING) Laverty. Are you awake?

I am now.

Something's up.

-I don't hear anything. -MARSHALL: Shh.

Really something's up.

Listen.

NARRATOR: In the early
days after the patrol's capture,

British army commanders in Sierra Leone

had tried to secure their immediate
release, but had got nowhere.

The West Side Boys had
not even given any evidence

that the hostages were still alive.

Any news?

Not since this morning
when they confirmed the RV.

Okay.

NARRATOR: But Marshall's
commanding officer,

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Fordham,

was about to meet Foday
Kallay, for the first time.

(VEHICLES APPROACHING)

FORDHAM: I became insistent
that I wanted to speak to Kallay,

because I wanted a reassurance from him

that the patrol was unharmed
and was going to be released.

Eventually after a lot of

arguing with the West Siders,
they agreed to a meeting

at half past four in the afternoon.

The key tenet for me on that second day

was that we wanted proof of life

and that from every meeting from then on

we would demand this and
we would demand an assurance

that the patrol was not
being harmed in any way

and that they were to be treated properly.

CONTOBIE: Colonel.

We have more negotiations, eh?

We want this resolved. As soon as possible.

So do we.

NARRATOR: Fordham was about
to learn how difficult that would be.

You bring what we demand.

We have food, water,
medicines and the sat phone.

They're outside.

Now, when can we expect
the first release of hostages?

My commanders here.

They demand free education.

In Britain.

You pay.

What?

Yes.

Any idea what it is you'd like to study?

You pass on our demand.

I'll alert the University of London.

FORDHAM: I was
particularly concerned about...

The patrol was going to be
shot and killed out of hand

and it would either be as a deliberate act

that Kallay would do because he
just couldn't handle the situation

or that the anarchy in this group

would get out of control
especially at night.

And an accident could happen
or things could get out of control

and the patrol would get hurt.

So it was very important that we
got the patrol and got these soldiers

out of this situation
as quickly as possible.

Now, let me talk to Captain Laverty.

I want to see how my men are being treated.

They are soldiers, Colonel.

They are treated as soldiers.

It was quite clear to me that we were going

to have to mount a rescue operation,

um, we might get somewhere
with the negotiations

and if we were it would have to be quick.

Um, and that's really the premise

upon which we then went on.

Oi! You stay there! Stay there!

Hello, Captain.

You tell me how you all are.

We're all being treated well, sir.

Including Lieutenant Bangura.

Mmm...

Well you tell everyone, we're
going to resolve this very soon.

We're doing all we can.

Will do, sir.

FORDHAM: Captain John
Laverty only came two or three times

and on the second time we had an incident

of gaining intelligence which
was pretty profound at the time.

He came forward under
guard to me, we shook hands

and it was obvious that he
had something in his hand.

I took it away and put it in
my pocket and did it without,

everybody else was there,
but no one else saw it.

CONTOBIE: Remember, Colonel.

Never try to attack us

or your soldiers will die.

And keep your helicopters away from us.

(ENGINE STARTS)

FORDHAM: It was a map that had been drawn

by the team of where they were being held,

what buildings they were
in, where the sentries were.

That was invaluable information

because satellite photography
can give you where they were

but what you don't get from that,

is actually what is going on on the ground.

NARRATOR: A day later,
five hostages were released.

But the story they told of their captivity

merely reinforced the
need for a rescue mission

to free the remaining soldiers.

Half the patrol were
released and that was good

but then it became quite clear

that the chances were it
was going to be much harder

to get the other half out.

Though a lot of information was gleaned

from members of the patrol
that were released early.

The most shocking thing was that

both Alan Marshall and John
Laverty had been subjected

to mock executions in
front of the rest of the patrol.

We were very, very concerned at that stage

as to, you know, what
was going on in the camp

and it was going to be important

to get the patrol out
as quickly as possible.

HOON: Above all else, I was concerned

about allegations of mistreatment

of the British soldiers.

There were clear suggestions

that they had been
subject to mock executions

and that they were being
abused in other ways.

That meant that

there would have to be a
decision to launch a military rescue.

NARRATOR: One final negotiation

reinforced the British government's
resolve to launch an assault.

Fordham's team arrived
to find the West Side Boys

covered in the blood and
body parts of local villagers

they had massacred earlier in the day.

Their actions seem to
have convinced Foday Kallay

that his gang was ready for high office.

We demand a place in the government.

The Lome Agreement must be suspended

so the West Side Boys
could take over ministries.

This is yet another new demand.

No! No! We have a right!

We deserve it.

A place in the government.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

First I need to speak to Captain Laverty.

Sure. Take your time.

FORDHAM: It was quite clear that
they, um, were getting desperate.

Therefore negotiations
were going to be harder

and we'd come to the point really

where unless there was a
dramatic change of heart,

Kallay was in a position where
he was completely cornered

and if this man was pushed too far,

then he would summarily kill the patrol

so that it was a problem that
he no longer had to deal with

rather than give them up
and suffer the consequences.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

FORDHAM: Hello, Captain.

Morning, sir.

News from home.

Your wife tells us she'll bring
the kids down from Stirling.

Right, sir.

I, uh...

Hope they arrive safely.

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

NARRATOR: The rescue
mission by the SAS assault force

is now within visual range of its target.

Brad Tinnion will be in one
of the six-man rescue teams

whose task it is to reach the hostages

before the West Side Boys can kill them.

Oi!

You're about six minutes out.

You ready?

Think so.

Gotta get in there.

It's no different for the rest of us.

NARRATOR: Marshall realizes that
the helicopters are on an approach run.

The next few minutes will
decide the hostages' fate.

(WHISPERING) Listen up, lads.

We need to be ready to
move in a moment's notice.

Whatever belongings
you've got left, pack them now.

We won't have time later.

- Right, boys, you heard him.
- SOLDIER: Okay, let's go.

Shh.

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

That's it.

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

PILOT 1: Sierra Green Alpha to Sierra One.

SAS AGENT 1: All clear
at LZ One. Sierra Two?

PILOT 1: All clear at LZ Two. Over.

PILOT 2: Sierra One.
Roger that, Green Alpha.

Lima Zulu One clear.

NARRATOR: After five days in hiding,

the SAS observers now get their
first chance to go on the offensive.

They move to forward positions

to guard against any attempt by the
West Side Boys to kill the hostages

before the rescue team can reach them.

As the Chinooks get closer,

Musa Bangura is being
guarded outside Kallay's house.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

(GUNFIRE)

This is it, lads!

Time to go!

Come on!

(CRASH)

Stay down!

Stay down!

(GUNFIRE)

NARRATOR: Brad Tinnion
is hit by a single round.

He's the first SAS rescuer to be injured.

KALLAY: Don't shoot!

NARRATOR: Foday Kallay's
reign of terror has just ended.

He is one of the few rebels
to give up without a fight.

(GUNFIRE)

LAVERTY: Where the fuck are they now?

(GUNFIRE)

MARSHALL: Move away from the door!

(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)

- British Army!
- SAS AGENT: Yeah we know. SAS.

Get away from the door.

-Everyone here? -All six British.

All except Lieutenant Musa, Sierra Leone.

Where can I find him?

Yeah, back out on the veranda.

You look left, there's a large
white building, he's in there.

Okay. Everyone all right?

All right.

Stay here until I get back.

Here!

(GUNFIRE)

NARRATOR: The end game
is about to play out for Contobie.

He is recognized by the SAS commando

who'd acted as a bodyguard during
the earlier hostage negotiations.

Fifty meters away,

Musa is trapped under wreckage

as Kallay's house
collapses during the attack.

SAS AGENT: Musa! Musa!

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Don't move! If you move I shoot!

(GUNFIRE)

NARRATOR: Musa encounters
Contobie for the last time.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

Right. Move 'em out.

Let's go! Let's go!

SAS COMMANDER: Move it!

Down! Down! Down! Right.

Keep up and stay tight. If
anyone gets hit, you keep moving.

We look after the wounded.

Follow him!

Move it! Move it!

Major! Weapon! Now!

Move it! Come on, let's go!

Let's move out. Go!

Let's get out of here!

PILOT: Sierra Two to
base. Hostages evacuated.

Hostages evacuated.

-(INDISTINCT TALKING) -(SHUTTER CLICKING)

NARRATOR: With the SAS raid over,

more than 60 West Side Boys

are thought to have been killed.

Many of the others have been captured,

including their leader Foday Kallay.

You remember me, you piece of shit?

NARRATOR: He will be moved
to a prison in the capital, Freetown,

but not before rings stolen from
the British hostages are reclaimed.

(EXHALES)

Many of the rebels captured
that day have since been released.

One in particular has not.

NARRATOR: This is the first
time Kallay has been interviewed

since his capture on the
10th of September 2000.

(INTERVIEWER SPEAKING)

NARRATOR: Kallay is serving
a 50 year prison sentence

for his part in the hostage crisis.

One of the prosecution witnesses
at his trial was Musa Bangura.

(INTERVIEWER SPEAKING)

(INTERVIEWER SPEAKING)

(SOBBING)

NARRATOR: The raid to rescue
Musa Bangura and the British hostages

hastened the end not
only of the West Side Boys,

but also the disastrous
civil war in Sierra Leone.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

The country was in a dire state

and people were reeling
from the internal strife.

So here was actually a dramatic situation

that had been resolved and, um,

and had been resolved successfully

and a lot of the people in Sierra Leone

saw the positive nature of that.

(MUSA SPEAKING)

It was a tragic thing to happen,

but this was an operation to...

To save and support
soldiers that were in peril.

And, uh, you know it is an
operation that will be remembered.

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

NARRATOR: Major Alan Marshall

will remain in the British army.

Lieutenant Musa Bangura will
recover from most of his wounds.

He will be promoted to Major
in the Sierra Leone Army.

Brad Tinnion will not survive his injuries.

He is the only fatality
among the British rescuers.

The mission to free the hostages
held by the West Side Boys

is one of the great unsung
military actions of modern times.

A daring raid that not only
saved hostages from certain death

but also helped save an entire country

from descent into brutal anarchy.