Australian Federal Police in Australia have raided the ABC News offices in Sydney on Wednesday, over allegations that the broadcaster published information over classified leaked military documents.
The new broadcaster alleged that Australian special forces shot dead unarmed men and children in Afghanistan in 2017, named as the “Afghan Files.”
These are the stories the AFP is raiding the ABC over. You decide whether they are in the public interest….Afghan Files expose deadly secrets of Australia's special forces https://t.co/npfWAh9nWF via @ABCNews
— jopuccini (@jopuccini) June 5, 2019
This is second raid ABC News has had in just two days, the broadcaster has said this is “outrageous” as this hinders press freedom.
However, the News Corporation editor’s home was raided the day before, AFP said the raids were not related.
David Anderson, ABC managing director said in a statement, “It is highly unusual for the national broadcaster to be raided in this way.
“This is a serious development and raises legitimate concerns over freedom of the press and proper public scrutiny of national security and defence matters.”
Page one of warrant… pic.twitter.com/gRJAm8p60B
— John Lyons (@TheLyonsDen) June 5, 2019
AFP: I’m still staggered by the power of this warrant. It allows the AFP to “add, copy, delete or alter” material in the ABC’s computers. All Australians, please think about that: as of this moment, the AFP has the power to delete material in the ABC’s computers. Australia 2019.
— John Lyons (@TheLyonsDen) June 5, 2019
AFP said the raid of the broadcaster was to with allegations they published classified documents, and a referral from the chief of the Australian defence force.
ABC News released a series damaging reports that within special forces there is a “warrior culture” as well as unlawful killings of unarmed men and children in Afghanistan.
In a statement the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the court authorised the raid based on evidence the showed “sufficient suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed”
Statement on search warrant in Sydney:
The AFP has executed a search warrant on the Ultimo premises of the ABC today (Wednesday, 5 June 2019) in relation to allegations of publishing classified material, contrary to provisions of the Crimes Act 1914.https://t.co/DgAqej7V5I
— AFP (@AusFedPolice) June 5, 2019
Marcus Strom, president of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance trade union wrote on Twitter the two raids are “just outrageous.”
“Police raiding journalists is becoming normalised.
“It has to stop.”
The company that is controlled by Rupert Murdoch said they “the most serious concerns about the willingness of governments to undermine the Australian public’s right to know about important decisions governments are making.”
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