German officials have announced an investigation into a massive online child abuse network that has up to 30,000 suspects connected to it.
The investigation began last year when a 43-year-old man was arrested near Cologne for allegedly raping his own daughter and sharing video of the abuse.
That initial case led to the discovery of the network. So far more than 70 suspects have been identified.
The investigation is focusing on the Cologne suburb of Bergisch Gladbach. Families there have been reportedly caught trading pictures of their own children being abused.
State Justice Minister Peter Beisenbach told reporters he hadn’t even “remotely” suspected the extent of child abuse circulating online in Germany.
“We want to drag perpetrators and supporters of child abuse out of the anonymity of the internet,” he said.
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