AFP refuses to confirm if it is investigating Ben Roberts-Smith’s possession of classified material

Former soldier told court he was aware he had classified commonwealth material but didn't think it was a criminal offence'

The Australian federal police has refused to confirm whether it is investigating admissions made by Ben Roberts-Smith in court during his defamation trial that he held classified and secret material - including footage of a raid on an Afghanistan compound during which he is accused of murdering a man with a prosthetic leg - in an apparent breach of national security laws.

Under cross-examination last week during his defamation trial, Roberts-Smith conceded he knowingly kept classified and secret material on a series of USBs at his Queensland home without authorisation.