Arrest comes after Roberts-Smith misplaced case in opposition to journalists who mentioned he was concerned in murders of unarmed Afghan males.
Printed On 7 Apr 2026
Former Australian particular forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney airport and is predicted to face costs for alleged battle crimes dedicated in Afghanistan, in response to the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).
The 47-year-old was anticipated to seem in a court docket in New South Wales afterward Tuesday over 5 counts of the battle crime of homicide, associated to unarmed Afghan nationals who “weren’t participating in hostilities on the time of their alleged homicide”, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett advised reporters in Sydney on Tuesday, in response to the ABC.
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Barrett mentioned the fees adopted a “advanced” investigation by the AFP information company and the Workplace of the Particular Investigator (OSI) relationship again to 2021.
The arrest comes after Roberts-Smith lost defamation proceedings he introduced in opposition to journalists who had reported he was “complicit in and chargeable 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 Could final yr.
Rawan Arraf, the chief director of the Australian Centre for Worldwide Justice, mentioned the arrest was a “vital and long-awaited step for victims and affected communities” in Afghanistan, the place Roberts-Smith was deployed a number of instances.
“The correct investigation and prosecution of alleged battle 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 below worldwide regulation,” Arraf mentioned in an announcement.
About 39,000 Australian troopers have been deployed to Afghanistan as a part of the US and NATO-led operations in opposition to 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 fees, he had obtained the Victoria Cross medal for his fifth tour of Afghanistan, and was reportedly the most-decorated dwelling Australian battle veteran.
In the meantime, former Australian military lawyer David McBride stays imprisoned in Australia over his position in revealing information about alleged Australian battle 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.
