‘Felt physically ill’: Australian defence minister Linda Reynolds on war crimes report

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds stated Friday that she was “physically ill” after studying a army report into struggle crimes that discovered proof that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.

“I was like every other Australian who watched that; I was totally and utterly shocked and mortified,” she instructed a enterprise convention in Perth. “I got the report two weeks ago and it made me physically ill.”

Australian Defence Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell on Thursday stated the report included alleged situations during which new Special Air Service (SAS) patrol members would shoot a prisoner to be able to obtain their first kill in a follow referred to as “blooding.”

The defence chief was asserting the findings of a four-year investigation by Paul Brereton, a choose who interviewed greater than 400 witnesses and reviewed hundreds of pages of paperwork.

Campbell stated troopers had additionally planted weapons and radios to assist false claims the prisoners have been enemies killed in motion. He unreservedly apologized to the Afghan folks.

The report advisable 19 troopers be referred to federal police for felony investigation. Campbell stated he’s accepting all of the report’s suggestions.

“It is, I think, distressing for everybody who has or still does wear the uniform,” Reynolds stated. “But if you look at it the other way, the fact is we have faced up to this because it doesn’t represent our values as a nation, it does not represent the values of the Australian Defence Force, and we have to tackle it, but to tackle it we have to be honest and it has to be transparent.”

Campbell stated the unlawful killings started in 2009, with the bulk occurring in 2012 and 2013. He stated some members of the elite Special Air Service inspired “a self-centered, warrior culture.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has already introduced a particular investigator will assist pursue attainable prosecutions as a result of the workload would overwhelm present police assets.