Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has been arrested at Sydney airport on charges relating to alleged war crimes. The Victoria Cross recipient was taken into custody and subsequently charged with five counts of murder in connection with incidents in Afghanistan.
Roberts-Smith was due to appear in a bail court on Wednesday, but was to spend Tuesday night in a police cell. The charges come after years of investigations into alleged misconduct by Australian special forces during the conflict in Afghanistan.
Guardian Australia senior reporter Ben Doherty, in conversation with Nour Haydar, provided details of the arrest and the charges. The case is expected to attract significant attention both domestically and internationally given Roberts-Smith’s status as a decorated war hero.
Further legal proceedings will determine whether Roberts-Smith is granted bail. The allegations, which he denies, relate to incidents that are said to have occurred during his deployment in Afghanistan.
