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One of the siezed computers. Photo: Spanish Police

German boys freed from global sex abuse ring

Published: 9 Dec 12 13:05 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121209-46657.html

German boys were among 19 children freed from the hands of an international child pornography ring based in Canada and Spain which made and sold videos of the boys being sexually abused, it emerged at the weekend.

Spanish police arrested 28 people in 14 cities, they said on Saturday. The 19 boys aged between 11 and 16 were found in Madrid and Alicante, local news reports said. Most were returned to their native countries of Germany, Romania and Ukraine.

Police said the gang, which has its headquarters in Toronto, Canada, make money from selling videos of children being abused. A single video can bring in up to €1,000. Reports suggested the gang had raised well over a million euros a year with the nefarious business.

At least four of those arrested had themselves been involved in sexually abusing the children. Those arrested included two religion teachers, a church youth camp organiser, two British men and an older "sex tourist".

DPA/The Local/hc


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