Top-selling Special Operations Group book pulled after doubts about its accuracy

Special Operations Group officer and author Christophe Glasl wept as he discussed the massacre in Port Arthur. Now his publisher wonders if he was ever there.

The Australian understands that author Christophe Glasl has now admitted to publisher Hachette that he was not in fact on duty in Port Arthur.

A top-selling book which contains a chapter about the experience of a Special Operations Group cop at Port Arthur has been withdrawn from sale, after Victorian Police said he was never actually there.

Publishing house Hachette, which published the book by Christophe Glasl two weeks ago, said in a statement this afternoon they had been forced to withdraw it.

The Australian understands that officers who were at Port Arthur on the day of Australia’s worst civilian massacre contacted them to say they did not think Glasl was there.

Special Operations Group by Christophe Glasl. Picture: The Australian

The Australian understands that Glasl has now admitted to Hachette that he was not in fact in Tasmania on the day of the massacre.

Glasl is known to suffer from PTSD, and some of his book is about his abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Hachette would not comment on the editing process for the book.

In a statement, Victoria Police said: “We have concerns about the accuracy of the book ... Of particular concern is chapter 18 which focuses on the author’s claimed involvement in the resolution of the Port Arthur massacre. To confirm, the former member was not part of the SOG deployment to Port Arthur nor was he even in Tasmania at the time.”

In its statement, Hachette said: “It has come to our attention that some of the content of the book, Special Operations Group by Christophe Glasl, is inaccurate.

“We have taken the decision to withdraw this book from sale immediately while we undertake further review.”

Glasl told The Australian: “I’m sorry. I’ve been instructed to refer you to the publisher. Maybe we can chat when they give me the all clear.”

Victoria Police said they are particularly concerned about “chapter 18 which focuses on the author’s claimed involvement in the resolution of the Port Arthur massacre”. Picture: Special Operations Group

He has apparently told the publisher that his account was always meant to be third-hand.

Glasl has conducted multiple media interviews since the book was published two weeks ago.

In an interview for The Australian’s daily podcast, The Front, which was recorded, he says of Port Arthur: “The incident was of such magnitude, that the Tasmanian Special Operations Group just weren‘t trained to deal with it. They didn’t have the equipment, or the training to be able to handle that scale of the situation is so basically, they said, ‘We need help.’ And they asked us to come over and assist with them.”

He continued: “ So, you know, obviously we were receiving briefings throughout our travel, over there ... and obviously, when we got there ... he (the gunman, Martin Bryant) was already holed up in the Seascape Cottages, which is where we went. So basically we were going to a siege situation, I guess you could call it.

Port Arthur gunman, Martin Bryant. Picture: Supplied

“He had the two owners of the seaside cottages in there ... Now we weren‘t aware whether they were still alive or not. We have to assume that they were. We found out later that they weren’t. So we sort of went into it as a seat hostage situation ... He was on the second floor of the seascape cottages, quite tactical in his way, because he never presented himself at any of the windows. He always stood back. So he was obviously very what’s the word? He could handle weapons, and he knew how to handle weapons.”

The publisher said of the book upon publication: “Special Operations Group is Chris’s ... gripping account of major jobs he attended: fatal shootings, a triple murder ... and the Port Arthur massacre, to name just a few.”

Hachette’s website was updated yesterday to remove Glasl’s author profile. A note on the page now says: “Oh no! This page has been dog-eared ... Keep calm and navigate your way back by hitting the Hachette log. We’ll get through this.”

Image from the book. Glasl apparently told the publisher that his account was always meant to be third-hand. Picture: Special Operations Group

Glasl tells a story in the book about the need to find a Bible upon arrival in Tasmania, so officers could be sworn in, telling The Front: “This is a real sticking point. Because we came from a different state.”

The Australian understands that he has told Hachette the “we” meant the Special Operations Group, of which he was part, although he was not on the mission to Port Arthur.

He told The Front: “So basically, we have to be sworn on a Bible ... and I can‘t remember the wording to swear ... but in that situation, we lost some valuable time.