Brereton Report

Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report into alleged Australian war crimes
LocationAfghanistan
Date2005 (2005)-2016 (2016) (period investigated)
2009 (2009)-2013 (2013) (killings)[1]
2016 (2016)-2020 (2020) (investigation and report)
Deaths39+
VictimsAfghan civilians and POWs
Perpetrators25 Australian Defence Force personnel
Websiteafghanistaninquiry.defence.gov.au

The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report, commonly known as the Brereton Report (after the investigation head), is a report into war crimes committed by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during the War in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.[2] The investigation was led by Paul Brereton, who is both a New South Wales Supreme Court judge and a major general in the army reserve.[3] The independent commission was initiated by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force in 2016, and after a long investigation,[4] delivered its final report on 6 November 2020. The redacted version was released publicly on 19 November 2020.[5]

The report found evidence of 39 murders of civilians and prisoners by (or at the instruction of) members of the Australian special forces, which were subsequently covered up by ADF personnel.[6][7][8] The report stated 25 ADF personnel were involved in the killings, including those who were "accessories" to the incident. Some of those believed to be involved were still serving with the ADF.[9] The unlawful killings discussed by the report began in 2009, with most occurring in 2012 and 2013.[10]

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