UK charges man with crimes against humanity in Syria in first such case

LONDON

A 58-year-old man has been charged with international crimes allegedly committed in Syria in 2011 as part of widespread attacks on civilians, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Monday.

In a statement, the CPS said the case marks the first prosecution of its kind in the United Kingdom involving charges of murder as a crime against humanity.

The charges follow an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing’s War Crimes Unit.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspect was served with a postal charge requisition in connection with international crimes allegedly committed in Syria.

“The man, who now lives in the UK, has been charged with seven offences, including three offences of murder as a crime against humanity, three offences of torture and one offence of conduct ancillary to murder,” the police said.

Prosecutors allege that while working for the Syrian Air Force Intelligence (AFI), the man led a group tasked with suppressing demonstrations in the suburbs of Damascus.

The CPS said it is the first time it has brought charges of murder as crimes against humanity under the International Criminal Court Act 2001.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: “We have determined that a 58-year-old man should be prosecuted with charges of murder as a crime against humanity and torture.”

The suspect is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.