Australia arrests ex-soldier Roberts-Smith over alleged war crimes

Former Australian special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport and is expected to face charges for alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. According to Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett, the 47-year-old faces five counts of the war crime of murder concerning unarmed Afghan nationals who "were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder." The charges follow a "complex" investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator that dates back to 2021.

This arrest comes after Roberts-Smith lost defamation proceedings against journalists who reported he was "complicit in and responsible for the murder" of three Afghan men. An Australian judge ruled in 2023 that the journalists had not defamed Roberts-Smith, a decision upheld by the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in May last year. Rawan Arraf, executive director of the Australian Centre for International Justice, stated that the arrest is a "significant and long-awaited step for victims and affected communities" in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for proper investigation and prosecution of alleged war crimes by Australian special forces.

Roberts-Smith's case has attracted considerable attention in Australia, particularly as he was previously awarded the Victoria Cross for his service in Afghanistan and is regarded as the most-decorated living Australian war veteran. Meanwhile, former Australian army lawyer David McBride remains imprisoned for exposing alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan. In response to Roberts-Smith's arrest, Australian Senator David Shoebridge called for McBride's release in a post on X.