Australia's most-decorated soldier arrested over alleged war crimes, local media say

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Australia’s most-decorated soldier arrested over alleged war crimes, local media say

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Tiffanie TurnbullSydney

BBC

Australia’s most-decorated living soldier has been arrested over allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, local media have reported.

Ben Roberts-Smith - who left the defence force in 2013 - was detained at Sydney airport on Tuesday morning, and Australian Federal Police are due to address the media shortly.

A landmark defamation judgement in 2023 found the former Special Air Service corporal and Victoria Cross recipient had murdered four unarmed Afghans.

However the 47-year-old denies all wrongdoing and he has not faced criminal charges, which require a higher burden of proof.

The civil trial was the first time in history any court has assessed claims of war crimes by Australian forces.

Roberts-Smith - who last year lost an appeal against the finding - argued the alleged killings occurred legally during combat or did not happen at all.

“I continue to maintain my innocence and deny these egregious spiteful allegations,” he said in a statement at the time.

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