Troops 'cut hands off dead fighter' in Afghanistan

Australian troops are under investigation for allegedly cutting off the hands of at least one dead militant in Afghanistan, it is reported.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the hands of at least one insurgent were brought back to the Australian base in Tarin Kowt iin Uruzgan province to be fingerprinted.

The Australian Defence Force confirmed that it was investigating “an incident of potential misconduct” during a combined operation between Afghan National Security Forces and Australia’s Special Operations Task Group in Zabul province in April, but released no details.

The ADF says the Afghan-Australian operation had been targeting an insurgent commander responsible for a key militant network operating in and around Uruzgan province. Australian troops killed four fighters in a battle.