Australian special forces troops facing prosecution over Afghan war crimes

AUSTRALIA has moved to prosecute alleged war crimes by its special forces deployed in Afghanistan, years after harrowing reports emerged of civilians and prisoners being killed.

Scott Morrison, the prime minister – citing allegations of “serious and possibly criminal misconduct” – appointed a special investigator, a move to forestall any prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

After the terror attacks of Sept 11, 2001, more than 26,000 Australian uniformed personnel were sent to Afghanistan to fight alongside US and allied forces.

Australian combat troops left the country in 2013, but since then a series of often-brutal accounts have emerged about the conduct of Australia’s elite special forces units.

They range from reports of troops killing a six-year-old child in a house raid, to a dead foe’s hand being severed, and a prisoner being shot dead to save space in a helicopter.

For years, the government had tried to suppress whistleblower reports of alleged wrongdoing, with police even moving to i nvestigate reporters involved in bringing those accounts to the public.

Meanwhile, the Australian Defence Force’s inspector-general conducted one of several closed-door probes into what it called “rumours and allegations” of “possible breaches of the Law of Armed Conflict”.

The inspector-general identified more than 50 incidents, most relating to the unlawful killings of “persons who were non-combatants or were no longer combatants” as well as “cruel treatment”.

Mr Morrison said a redacted version of the inspector-general’s report would be released within days. He added: “This will be difficult and hard news for Australians.”

The appointment of a prosecutor represents a significant escalation in the legal process and could lead to criminal charges against military personnel.

There had been speculation that Australia’s failure fully to investigate the reports could lead to the International Criminal Court stepping in.

Asked if the appointment of a prosecutor would mitigate that risk, Mr Morrison said: “We believe so, yes. That is the important advice we have taken on this.”