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Former Australian soldier charged with committing 5 war crime murders in Afghanistan
Police say the former Victoria Cross recipient faces five murder counts after a five-year investigation that linked him to alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan.
- On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Australian Federal Police arrested 47-year-old former Special Air Service Regiment soldier Ben Roberts-Smith at Sydney Airport, charging the Victoria Cross recipient with five counts of war crime murder.
- Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated victims "were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder," as investigators allege Roberts-Smith murdered unarmed prisoners between 2009 and 2012.
- Following a 2023 civil court ruling, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko found Roberts-Smith likely murdered four unarmed Afghans; criminal charges now require proof beyond reasonable doubt rather than the civil standard used.
- Office of the Special Investigator director Ross Barnett described the investigation as complex due to limited access to Afghan crime scenes. Roberts-Smith remains in custody pending a Wednesday bail hearing.
- Roberts-Smith is the second veteran charged following the 2020 Brereton report's findings of unlawful killings. Amnesty International Australia's Zaki Haidari called the arrest a "critical step toward global justice and accountability efforts.
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Decorated Australian soldier charged with killing 5 unarmed Afghans
Australia's most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, faces war crime charges on allegations he killed five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan from 2009 and 2012, police and media reported on Tuesday.
·Canada
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Roberts-Smith had already failed in his earlier attempt to sue three newspapers who published allegations that he had murdered unarmed civilians and harassed fellow Australian Defense Forces member Ben Roberts-Smith, the country's most decorated live soldier, was arrested Tuesday at Sydney airport and will be charged with five counts of war crimes for murder in Afghanistan, authorities have reported.
·Spain
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Leaning Left37Leaning Right41Center62Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 27%
C 44%
R 29%
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