Fri Sep 20 09:15:12 UTC 2024: ## ABC Faces Independent Review After Editing Errors in Afghanistan War Story

**Sydney, Australia** – The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced an independent review into a 2022 story that included an editing error in the audio of helmet cam footage captured by Australian commandos in Afghanistan. The review comes after allegations surfaced that the ABC added the sound of five extra gunshots to a video clip showing Australian troops firing from a helicopter.

The review was announced by ABC managing director David Anderson, who confirmed that an editing error was identified in the audio of the video accompanying the online story. The video, which was removed from the ABC News website, featured footage of Australian commandos operating in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in 2012 and was part of an ABC Investigations team story that raised questions about the conduct of the 2nd Commando Regiment.

The ABC’s reporting focused on allegations of kill counts and the use of enemy casualty numbers as a measure of performance. One of the videos included in the story showed commandos discussing a “quota” and another clip allegedly depicted a soldier firing at what appeared to be unarmed civilians from a moving helicopter.

The allegations were brought to light by Channel Seven’s Spotlight program, which featured ex-commando Heston Russell. Russell, who won a defamation case against the ABC last year, accused the broadcaster of jumping to conclusions based on a short clip.

Further allegations emerged regarding the ABC’s reporting and its use of the helmet cam footage, including concerns about how it was edited for broadcast in the 7.30 program. Anderson revealed that ABC Legal received a letter in November 2022 raising these concerns, but this information was not shared with ABC News.

While the ABC is conducting the independent review, Anderson emphasized that the public interest issues raised by the stories remain valid. The head of the review is expected to be announced in the coming days.

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