Ben Roberts-Smith, one of Australia’s most highly decorated military personnel, has been taken into custody following accusations of war crimes.

The 47-year-old recipient of the Victoria Cross was apprehended at Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning.

This development follows a lengthy defamation trial involving Nine Newspapers, which concluded with a court ruling indicating that it is likely true that Roberts-Smith was either directly responsible for or involved in the deaths of four Afghan detainees.

The Australian Federal Police, along with the Office of the Special Investigator, is expected to provide a media briefing regarding the arrest shortly.