Australia arrests former soldier over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan

Australian authorities on April 7 arrested one of the country’s most decorated former soldiers on suspicion of murdering unarmed prisoners while serving in Afghanistan, following a sweeping war crimes investigation.

The Australian Federal Police said it had taken into custody a 47-year-old former soldier. Local media widely identified him as Ben Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the former soldier had been linked to a series of alleged murders committed between 2009 and 2012 while deployed in Afghanistan.

“The victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan,” she told reporters. “It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused, or shot by subordinate members acting on the orders of the accused.”

Barrett said he would be charged with five counts of “war crime – murder”.

A former member of Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment, Roberts-Smith was previously celebrated as the nation’s most distinguished living war hero. 

By Sabina Mammadli