Ex- soldier Ben Roberts-Smith Arrested, Charged with War Crimes Over Killings in Afghanistan

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Sydney: Former Australian special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with alleged war crimes linked to killings in Afghanistan.

The 47-year-old faces five counts related to the murder of five people between 2009 and 2012, with each charge carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, police said.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett said authorities will allege the victims were not involved in fighting and were either shot by Roberts-Smith or by subordinates acting under his direction.

The charges follow a complex investigation launched in 2021 by the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator. He is due to appear in a New South Wales court for a bail hearing.

The arrest comes after Roberts-Smith lost a high-profile defamation case against journalists, with courts ruling that reports linking him to unlawful killings were substantially true.

Rights advocates welcomed the development, calling it a significant step toward justice for Afghan victims and accountability under international law.

Around 39,000 Australian troops served in Afghanistan during US and NATO-led operations, with the case drawing national attention given Roberts-Smith’s status as a highly decorated war veteran and recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Meanwhile, former army lawyer David McBride remains in prison over his role in exposing alleged war crimes, with renewed calls for his release following the arrest.