LONDON -- Seven Royal Marines have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with an incident in Afghanistan last year, the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense announced Thursday.

“The incident followed an engagement with an insurgent: there were no civilians involved,” the statement said.

“The investigation will now be taken forward and dealt with by the Service Justice system. 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. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment while the investigation is under way."

The ministry statement did not name the marines or give any further details of the incident.

Slideshow: Afghanistan: Nation at a crossroads

Aref Karimi / AFP - Getty Images

More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.

Launch slideshow

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