The ADF is recommending that Australia‘s Federal Police (AFP) investigate 19 individuals from the Australian Special Forces over 36 alleged war crimes, including murder and cruel treatment of non-combatants in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2013.
Campbell said he had accepted all of the inquiry‘s 143 recommendations.
Archiv: Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) / Australia
Australiens Afghanistan-Einsatz: Bericht über schwere Kriegsverbrechen
Australische Soldaten haben einem Untersuchungsbericht zufolge bei ihrem Einsatz in Afghanistan Kriegsverbrechen begangen. 25 Mitglieder einer Sondereinheit hätten mindestens 39 Gefangene oder Zivilisten „unrechtmäßig“ getötet, sagte der Chef der australischen Verteidigungsstreitkräfte, Angus Campbell, am Mittwoch in Canberra bei der Veröffentlichung eines Berichts zum Verhalten der Soldaten in Afghanistan.
‘Deeply disturbing’ war crimes report: 39 Afghanis allegedly killed by SAS
Exactly seven days ago, the Mr Morrison warned the nation to prepare for allegations of “serious and possibly criminal conduct” by Australia’s defence force in Afghanistan that could see soldiers prosecuted for unlawful killings.
A special investigator will be appointed to consider allegations of war crimes by Australia’s soldiers in the Middle East following the completion of a long-running defence investigation into the claims.
Australian special forces soldiers committed up to 39 murders: ADF report
The public summary of the inquiry, released on Thursday morning, based partly on evidence given by eyewitnesses interviewed under oath, also found that Australian soldiers summarily executed non-combatants and prisoners.
Justice Brereton wrote „when what the inquiry has found is taken collectively, the answer to the question, ‚Is there substance to rumours of war crimes by elements of the Special Operations Task group‘ must sadly be, ‚Yes, there is‘.“
Australia apologises to Afghanistan for special forces misconduct
Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell is releasing a public summary of the four-year investigation by senior judge Paul Brereton for the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.