BT faces accusations over alleged contribution to US drone strikes
The government is facing a demand to investigate BT Group on claims that the company has helped the US to conduct drone strikes against Yemen and Somalia, although BT denied the accusations.
Human rights charity Reprieve submitted a complaint against BT as it believes the company built a fibre-optic circuit in 2012 used by the US Air Force to strike the two countries.
Reprieve said on Thursday the BT-made cable was tailored to meet the National Security Agency's (NSA) requirements to launch the drone strikes.
The circuit is believed to run from RAF Croughton, a US base in Northamptonshire to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, the only US military base in Africa.
The contract between the telecoms company and the US government runs between October 2012 and 2017.
Reprieve investigator Kevin Lo said: "Between this new evidence, and BT's claim to work with 'any government that pays the bills', it's now clear there are serious questions to be asked about BT's possible support for US drone strikes.
"The government should reopen its investigation as soon as possible, and demand some answers on behalf of the strikes' civilian victims."
BT said in a statement: "UK NCP assessed Reprieve's complaint in February and rejected it. BT can categorically state that the communications system mentioned in Reprieve's complaint is a general purpose fibre-optic system. It has not been specifically designed or adapted by BT for military purposes, including drone strikes.
"We have no knowledge, beyond press reports, of US drone strikes. We take our human rights obligations very seriously and fully support the OECD Guidelines."
BT shares closed 5.2p or 1.4% higher at 388p in London.
JF