大象传媒

The detention centre at the US military's Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan became notorious during the early years of the American operation in Afghanistan, with well-documented cases of torture. Conditions gradually improved under President George W Bush and when President Obama came to power he promised under his administration that the United States 'does not torture'.

大象传媒 correspondent, Hilary Andersson, has spent many months investigating new, recent allegations of physical and mental abuse of prisoners held at the Bagram Airbase. Many former detainees describe being held in a top-secret "dark prison", separate from the main detention centre, where conditions are particularly harsh; claiming they were subjected to sleep deprivation, isolation and extremes of cold. The US military authorities deny the existence of a second prison at Bagram.

Hilary also follows the cases of "extraordinary rendition" by British authorities, where detainees were transferred from Iraq to Bagram, even though there was clear evidence that they were at risk of torture.

Also, Donal interviews journalist Tony Thompson about his new book 'Gang Land' to discuss the changes in the way organised criminal gangs now go about their business. And in an update on last week's programme where we asked whether the Blackburn Resistance were jokers or jihadists -- we reveal new information on their ties to a convicted extremist.

Contact the programme: donal@bbc.co.uk.