One of Australia’s Most Decorated Soldiers Charged With 5 Alleged War Crime Murders

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed the charges were related to murder committed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith arrested by the Australian Federal Police for alleged war crime murders in Afghanistan in Sydney, Australia on April 7, 2026. Courtesy of the Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have arrested the country’s most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith for five counts of the war crime of murder.

The arrest comes after Roberts-Smith was accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan in a series of investigative media pieces, which he responded to by suing the related outlets for defamation—cases he ultimately loss.