7 British Royal Marines arrested in Afghan murder probe

LONDON (AFP) - British military police on Thursday arrested seven members of the elite Royal Marines on suspicion of murder in Afghanistan in 2011, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.

"The incident followed an engagement with an insurgent - there were no civilians involved," said an MoD spokesman.

The investigation will now be conducted by the Service Justice system, which handles offences committed by British service personnel overseas, added the spokesman.

"These arrests demonstrate the department and the Armed Forces' determination to ensure UK personnel act in accordance with their Rules of Engagement and our standards," said the MoD statement.