Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
French Child Pornography Arrests Includes Teacher, Scientist
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
October 8, 2020

Share

LYON, France — French police have arrested 61 people suspected of involvement in a vast child pornography network, including at least three people who raped children on camera, officials said Thursday.

Among the suspects are several who work in jobs that put them in contact with children, such as teachers, religious leaders and city hall officials, according to Eric Bérot, head of the French police agency overseeing the operation.

Among the suspects are several who work in jobs that put them in contact with children, such as teachers, religious leaders and city hall officials, according to Eric Bérot, head of the French police agency overseeing the operation.

They were arrested in coordinated operations in 30 regions of France between Monday and Thursday, based on months of investigation of child pornography shared on peer-to-peer networks online, Berot told The Associated Press. French investigators specializing in online crime spotted exchanges of child pornography files using software from a U.S. non-profit company, Child Rescue Coalition.

French police seized hundreds of hard drives, computers, tablets and USB keys during numerous searches, and investigators are still sorting through the images and data, Berot said.

Among the suspects are a sports teacher who filmed children in locker rooms and a computer scientist who admitted to investigators that he had regularly raped his 14-year-old daughter since she was nine, Berot said. At the suspect’s home, the police found more than 110,000 images and 2,000 criminal videos. Three other suspects were seen on camera raping children, he said.

“These arrests include everyone, all trades, all social classes, from merchants to managers, from white collar to blue collar, of all ages, from 28 to 75 years old, from all family situations, single people, those in a couple, with or without children,” Bérot said.

Sixty of the suspects are men, and one is a woman accused of watching the videos with her partner.

Of the 61 arrested, 13 had previous records and were on the national register of perpetrators of sexual offenses. Some 60 prosecutors are now investigating each case.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Can Democrats Be the Party of the Future Again?

DON'T MISS

Say Goodbye to Overpriced Groceries: 6 Hacks to Save Hundreds Each Month

DON'T MISS

From Stories to Work Shirts, How Jim Harbaugh Has Turned Around the Chargers

DON'T MISS

Tulare Police Arrest Canadian Suspect in $130,000 Elder Scam

DON'T MISS

Hall of Famer Kurt Warner’s QB Son Commits to Fresno State

DON'T MISS

Meathead Movers Fill Trucks with Donations for LA Fire Victims. Fresno Can Help

DON'T MISS

Hendrick Motorsports Believes Its Next NASCAR Superstar Is From Clovis

DON'T MISS

Spider Monkey Found in Madera DUI Stop Has a Name: Meet Azules

DON'T MISS

Newsom: Insurance Companies Can’t Cancel or Not Renew Policies of LA Fire Victims

DON'T MISS

Notre Dame Gets Late Pick and Field Goal to Edge Penn State

UP NEXT

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Sworn In Despite Credible Evidence of Election Loss

UP NEXT

US Increases Bounty to $25M on Venezuelan’s Maduro

UP NEXT

Google to Track Every Device Starting February 16

UP NEXT

Inside Trump’s Search for a Health Threat to Justify His Immigration Crackdown

UP NEXT

TikTok’s Fate Arrives at Supreme Court in Collision of Free Speech and National Security

UP NEXT

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Dies in On-Duty Traffic Accident

UP NEXT

Italian Journalist Freed From Detention in Iran, Returns Home

UP NEXT

Washington Post Lays Off 4% of Its Workforce

UP NEXT

Trump Says He Will Change the Name of the Gulf of Mexico

UP NEXT

Jimmy Carter Will Be Honored in Washington, a City Where He Remained an Outsider

Tulare Police Arrest Canadian Suspect in $130,000 Elder Scam

15 hours ago

Hall of Famer Kurt Warner’s QB Son Commits to Fresno State

17 hours ago

Meathead Movers Fill Trucks with Donations for LA Fire Victims. Fresno Can Help

17 hours ago

Hendrick Motorsports Believes Its Next NASCAR Superstar Is From Clovis

18 hours ago

Spider Monkey Found in Madera DUI Stop Has a Name: Meet Azules

18 hours ago

Newsom: Insurance Companies Can’t Cancel or Not Renew Policies of LA Fire Victims

19 hours ago

Notre Dame Gets Late Pick and Field Goal to Edge Penn State

19 hours ago

NFL Moves Vikings-Rams Playoff Game to Arizona Due to Wildfires

19 hours ago

Hamas Hostage Survivor Will Speak in Fresno on Saturday

19 hours ago

Why Was FUSD Interim Superintendent’s Seat Moved at Board Meetings?

20 hours ago

Can Democrats Be the Party of the Future Again?

Until recently, there was nothing dissonant about the fact that the heart of Silicon Valley is represented in the House by one of the most p...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Can Democrats Be the Party of the Future Again?

2 hours ago

Say Goodbye to Overpriced Groceries: 6 Hacks to Save Hundreds Each Month

15 hours ago

From Stories to Work Shirts, How Jim Harbaugh Has Turned Around the Chargers

15 hours ago

Tulare Police Arrest Canadian Suspect in $130,000 Elder Scam

17 hours ago

Hall of Famer Kurt Warner’s QB Son Commits to Fresno State

17 hours ago

Meathead Movers Fill Trucks with Donations for LA Fire Victims. Fresno Can Help

Corey Day Signs Contract With Hendrick Motorsports
18 hours ago

Hendrick Motorsports Believes Its Next NASCAR Superstar Is From Clovis

The Oakland Zoo's rescue of Azules, a young spider monkey, highlights the dangers of wildlife trafficking and illegal primate ownership. (Oakland Zoo)
18 hours ago

Spider Monkey Found in Madera DUI Stop Has a Name: Meet Azules

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend