The Australian federal police have confirmed they are investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers during the Afghanistan conflict.
The AFP issued a statement saying: “In June 2018, the Australian federal police (AFP) received a referral to investigate allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers during the Afghanistan conflict.”
“The AFP has accepted the matters for investigation.”
Because the investigation is ongoing, the AFP said it would not not confirm or deny the specific incidents or the identity of those subject to the investigation.
It also would not say who the referral was from.
The inspector general of the defence force and the chief of the defence force, Angus Campbell, have been briefed on the referral.
A separate investigation by the the inspector general was launched in 2016 and is looking into the conduct of a group of special air services personnel in Afghanistan. It is being headed by New South Wales court of appeal judge, Paul Brereton.
The AFP has not named who it is investigating and would not comment further.
