Decorated Australian soldier faces 5 murder charges in Afghan war crime probe

One of Australia’s most-decorated soldiers was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly murdering unarmed prisoners while serving in Afghanistan, police and local media said following a sweeping war crimes investigation.The Australian Federal Police said they arrested a 47-year-old former Australian soldier, who was widely named in local media as Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.Federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the soldier had been linked to a string of murders while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.“The victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan,” she told reporters.The victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder“It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused, or shot by subordinate members acting on the orders of the accused.”