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Afghan murder charge for Canadian | Afghan murder charge for Canadian |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Canadian military police have charged a Canadian officer with murdering an unarmed Afghan man in Helmand Province last year. | Canadian military police have charged a Canadian officer with murdering an unarmed Afghan man in Helmand Province last year. |
Captain Robert Semrau is accused of shooting and killing a man officials described as a "presumed insurgent". | Captain Robert Semrau is accused of shooting and killing a man officials described as a "presumed insurgent". |
Capt Semrau was with a mentoring team helping Afghan soldiers in Helmand at the time of the death "on or about" 19 October of last year. | Capt Semrau was with a mentoring team helping Afghan soldiers in Helmand at the time of the death "on or about" 19 October of last year. |
Taleban insurgents had launched a major offensive in Helmand at the time. | Taleban insurgents had launched a major offensive in Helmand at the time. |
Capt Semrau is being held by military police before being transferred back to Canada to face a military judge, the Canadian defence ministry said. | Capt Semrau is being held by military police before being transferred back to Canada to face a military judge, the Canadian defence ministry said. |
He was charged "with one count of second-degree murder" and "is accused of shooting, with intent to kill, an unarmed male person", Canadian military police investigators said in a statement. | He was charged "with one count of second-degree murder" and "is accused of shooting, with intent to kill, an unarmed male person", Canadian military police investigators said in a statement. |
Fierce attacks | Fierce attacks |
Military officials launched their investigation into the death of the Afghan man after being informed of the allegations on 27 December. | Military officials launched their investigation into the death of the Afghan man after being informed of the allegations on 27 December. |
Canada has about 2,700 soldiers in Afghanistan serving as part of Nato's International Security Assistance Force. | Canada has about 2,700 soldiers in Afghanistan serving as part of Nato's International Security Assistance Force. |
Since their mission was stepped up in 2006, 106 have been killed. | |
Most are based in Kandahar, but in mid-October a group of Canadian mentors was with Afghan troops in neighbouring Helmand, where the Taleban had launched fierce attacks on the key town of Lashkar Gah. | Most are based in Kandahar, but in mid-October a group of Canadian mentors was with Afghan troops in neighbouring Helmand, where the Taleban had launched fierce attacks on the key town of Lashkar Gah. |
Afghan and Nato officials said at least 100 insurgents had died in the battle. | Afghan and Nato officials said at least 100 insurgents had died in the battle. |
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