UK army investigates Corbyn target practice video

Britain's Defence Ministry has launched an investigation into a social media video apparently showing British soldiers using a picture of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for target practice.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the video is legitimate and that an investigation has been launched. The incident is understood to have happened within the past few days in Afghanistan, on a shooting range in Kabul used by deployed soldiers to practice close-protection techniques.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "This behaviour is alarming and unacceptable. We have confidence in the MoD to investigate and act on this incident."

The issue was addressed later in the Commons, when the Speaker John Bercow said he would be "horrified" if service personnel behaved that way to any MP.

The soldiers were using paint "simunition" rounds, not bullets, but multiple holes can be seen in the picture of Corbyn's head. The video carries the caption "happy with that".

"We are aware of a video circulating on social media, this behaviour is totally unacceptable and falls well below the high standards the army expects, a full investigation has been launched," an army spokesman said.

The soldiers, from the 3rd battalion, Parachute Regiment, have been spoken to and are due to leave Afghanistan shortly because their tour is coming to an end.

The Labour Party leader Corbyn said: "I'm shocked, obviously, that this sort of thing has happened.

"I hope the Ministry of Defence will conduct an inquiry into it and find out what was going on and who did that."

Corbyn is unpopular in parts of the military because of his past policies on Northern Ireland, the Trident nuclear program and opposition to the Iraq war and other foreign interventions.

Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, wrote to Gavin Williamson, the secretary of state for defence, calling for him to ensure the investigation "is thorough and carried out in a timely manner".

Williamson later replied on Twitter: "I commend the prompt and clear leadership shown by the army in investigating this troubling video." It is understood he would wait until the investigation concluded before commenting further.

Labour sources highlighted that Corbyn and other Labour figures have been targeted in recent weeks and months, while the party pressure group Momentum said it reflected the "radicalising effect the rightwing press is having".

Referring to the current febrile atmosphere in British politics, Corbyn said: "Yes people have disagreements and yes people have divisions.

"Conduct those divisions and disagreements in a respectful way. Don't descend into something ugly and violent."