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| FBI 'saves 105 trafficked children in 76 US cities' | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The FBI has announced it has rescued 105 children across 76 US cities over the weekend, in an operation against child sex trafficking. | |
| Some 150 pimps were also arrested in the raids, said the FBI, conducted as part of Operation Cross Country VII. | Some 150 pimps were also arrested in the raids, said the FBI, conducted as part of Operation Cross Country VII. |
| FBI assistant director Ronald Hosko told reporters it had been the agency's largest action against child exploitation. | |
| The FBI said 2,700 children have been rescued since 2003 in such US raids. | |
| "Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across America," said Mr Hosko. | "Child prostitution remains a persistent threat to children across America," said Mr Hosko. |
| "This operation serves as a reminder that these abhorrent crimes can happen anywhere," he added. | |
| The largest number of arrests and children saved were in the agency's San Francisco division, but the expanse of the raids were across the US, said the FBI. | |
| The youngest child was 13 years old, the agency said, and had been prostituted in a variety of locations, including truck stops, casinos, motels as well as on social media and online advertisements. | |
| Mr Hosko said the accused had preyed on vulnerable teenagers, exploiting them over a period of time. | |
| "Girls are enticed with compliments or offers, [asked] do they want to make some money," he said. | |
| "Then they are trapped into this cycle that involves drugs, that involves physical abuse. It may involve torture." |