Arrest comes after Roberts-Smith misplaced case towards journalists who mentioned he was concerned in murders of unarmed Afghan males.
Revealed On 7 Apr 2026
Former Australian particular forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney airport and is anticipated to face fees for alleged warfare crimes dedicated in Afghanistan, in line with the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).
The 47-year-old was anticipated to seem in a courtroom in New South Wales in a while Tuesday over 5 counts of the warfare crime of homicide, associated to unarmed Afghan nationals who “weren’t collaborating in hostilities on the time of their alleged homicide”, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett advised reporters in Sydney on Tuesday, in line with the ABC.
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Barrett mentioned the costs adopted a “complicated” investigation by the AFP information company and the Workplace of the Particular Investigator (OSI) courting again to 2021.
The arrest comes after Roberts-Smith misplaced defamation proceedings he introduced towards journalists who had reported he was “complicit in and liable for the homicide” of three Afghan males.
An Australian choose present in 2023 that these journalists had not defamed Roberts-Smith, a ruling that was upheld by the Full Court docket of the Federal Court docket of Australia in Might final 12 months.
Rawan Arraf, the chief director of the Australian Centre for Worldwide Justice, mentioned the arrest was a “important and long-awaited step for victims and affected communities” in Afghanistan, the place Roberts-Smith was deployed a number of occasions.
“The right investigation and prosecution of alleged warfare crimes by members of the Australian particular forces in Afghanistan are important to making sure justice for Afghan victims and to Australia assembly its obligations beneath worldwide legislation,” Arraf mentioned in a press release.
About 39,000 Australian troopers have been deployed to Afghanistan as a part of the US and NATO-led operations towards the Taliban and different armed teams over twenty years.
Roberts-Smith’s case has drawn appreciable scrutiny in Australia, together with as a result of previous to the costs, he had obtained the Victoria Cross medal for his fifth tour of Afghanistan, and was reportedly the most-decorated dwelling Australian warfare veteran.
In the meantime, former Australian military lawyer David McBride stays imprisoned in Australia over his position in revealing details about alleged Australian warfare crimes in Afghanistan.
Australian Senator David Shoebridge responded to the information of Roberts-Smith’s arrest by saying “Launch David McBride” in a brief publish on X.
