Australia: 'Special Operations Group' memoir publisher takes it off market over false claims
Special Operations Group book
Special Operations Group, a memoir by a former member of Australia's elite police force by the same name, has been pulled from sale by its publisher Hachette over allegations of 'inaccuracy'.
The memoir, as per a BBC report, was released two weeks ago and it recounted Christophe Glasl's time as a member of the Special Operations Group (SOG).
What exactly was the book about?
As per BBC, the book recounted tales of murders, drug busts and also the response to the Port Arthur massacre which happens to be Australia's worst mass shooting.
On 28 April 1996, the perpetrator Martin Bryant opened fire on a crowd of people in a tourist complex some 100 km south of Hobart, Tasmania, killing 35 people and wounding 23 others.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
The 'inaccuracies' in the book
As per the Victoria police, the author, Glasl, was not present in Port Arthur when the tragic incident took place. This has cast doubt on the former policeman's version of events.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning, a Victoria Police spokesperson said that only 10 Victorian SOG members went to Tasmania that day.
Also read | Kim’s sister alleges ‘illegal intrusion’ of North Korean airspace by US surveillance, spy planes
"To confirm, the former member was not part of the SOG deployment to Port Arthur nor was he even in Tasmania at the time," added the statement.
In a statement, the Victoria police said that one chapter which focuses on Glasl's "claimed involvement" in the "resolution" of the Port Arthur massacre was of particular concern.
What did the author say about these allegations?
As per The Australian newspaper, Glasl reportedly told the publisher that he was not in Tasmania on the day of the incident. He also said that he had always intended on it being a third-hand account.
The publisher Hachette Australia in its statement said that it has come to its attention that some of the book's content may be "inaccurate" and that due to this it has "taken the decision to withdraw this book from sale immediately" while a further review takes place.
While previously the publisher promoted the book as a "raw, behind-the-scenes look" at what went on in the special forces "where solidarity, camaraderie and loyalties were undermined by bullying, bastardisation, drug use, lies and betrayal", all mentions of the book have now been removed from the Hachette website.
(With inputs from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.
