Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney airport in connection with alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, media reports said on Tuesday.
According to a report by The Guardian, the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator announced details of the case in Sydney.
Roberts-Smith is expected to be charged with five counts of war crimes, including murder, linked to three separate incidents. The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
Krissy Barrett, commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said the incidents involved Afghan nationals allegedly being shot dead either by Roberts-Smith or by a subordinate under his command while he was present.
Although Barrett did not directly name Roberts-Smith, she said the 47-year-old is accused of involvement in the deaths of Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012 in circumstances that constitute war crimes.
“It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan,” she said.
“It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and under the control of Australian Defence Force members when they were killed.”
Barrett confirmed that Roberts-Smith was arrested at the domestic terminal after arriving in Sydney on a flight from Brisbane.
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