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| Thais arrest paedophile suspect | Thais arrest paedophile suspect |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Canadian paedophile suspect who was the subject of a global manhunt has been arrested in Thailand. | A Canadian paedophile suspect who was the subject of a global manhunt has been arrested in Thailand. |
| Police tracked down 32-year-old teacher Christopher Paul Neil in north-east Thailand. They suspect him of appearing in 200 online images of child abuse. | Police tracked down 32-year-old teacher Christopher Paul Neil in north-east Thailand. They suspect him of appearing in 200 online images of child abuse. |
| Mr Neil, who faces 20 years in jail if convicted, was brought to a news briefing, but did not answer questions. | Mr Neil, who faces 20 years in jail if convicted, was brought to a news briefing, but did not answer questions. |
| Interpol had appealed for help after experts unscrambled digitally-distorted photos of the suspect. | Interpol had appealed for help after experts unscrambled digitally-distorted photos of the suspect. |
| The international police agency sparked a worldwide manhunt when it launched its first global appeal to the public for information on the suspected paedophile. | The international police agency sparked a worldwide manhunt when it launched its first global appeal to the public for information on the suspected paedophile. |
| UNFOLDING INVESTIGATION Dec 2004: Abuse photos, some date-stamped 2002 or 2003, found on internet8 Oct 2007: Interpol's global appeal for information9 Oct: Interpol says more than 200 responses received11 Oct: Suspect flies into Bangkok on one-way ticket19 Oct: Suspect arrested in north-east Thailand | UNFOLDING INVESTIGATION Dec 2004: Abuse photos, some date-stamped 2002 or 2003, found on internet8 Oct 2007: Interpol's global appeal for information9 Oct: Interpol says more than 200 responses received11 Oct: Suspect flies into Bangkok on one-way ticket19 Oct: Suspect arrested in north-east Thailand |
| The Thai courts issued an arrest warrant on Thursday after a 17-year-old Thai youth told the authorities the suspect had sexually molested him several years ago. | The Thai courts issued an arrest warrant on Thursday after a 17-year-old Thai youth told the authorities the suspect had sexually molested him several years ago. |
| Mr Neil was picked up by officers on Friday morning in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250 km (150 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangkok. | Mr Neil was picked up by officers on Friday morning in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250 km (150 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangkok. |
| He was driven to the Thai capital where he was paraded in handcuffs in front of gathered journalists at a police station. | |
| The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Bangkok, said there were chaotic scenes as Mr Neil was led into the building, with police having to fend off a scrum of reporters and photographers. | The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Bangkok, said there were chaotic scenes as Mr Neil was led into the building, with police having to fend off a scrum of reporters and photographers. |
| Police chiefs said he was suspected of abusing at least 12 youngsters - at least one said to be under 10 years old. | Police chiefs said he was suspected of abusing at least 12 youngsters - at least one said to be under 10 years old. |
| The arrest follows lengthy efforts to identify a man seen in more than 200 online images of alleged sexual abuse involving young boys. | The arrest follows lengthy efforts to identify a man seen in more than 200 online images of alleged sexual abuse involving young boys. |
| The man's face had been digitally scrambled, but Interpol used software to create a usable image of the suspect. | The man's face had been digitally scrambled, but Interpol used software to create a usable image of the suspect. |
| On 11 October, footage from a security camera at Bangkok airport recorded Mr Neil's entry into Thailand from South Korea, where he had been working as an English teacher. | On 11 October, footage from a security camera at Bangkok airport recorded Mr Neil's entry into Thailand from South Korea, where he had been working as an English teacher. |
| After hundreds of responses to its appeal for help, Interpol named him as a suspect earlier this week. | After hundreds of responses to its appeal for help, Interpol named him as a suspect earlier this week. |
| "The fact that we went to the public was the breakthrough," Interpol detective Mick Moran told AFP news agency. | "The fact that we went to the public was the breakthrough," Interpol detective Mick Moran told AFP news agency. |
| "We are absolutely delighted that this guy has been arrested." | "We are absolutely delighted that this guy has been arrested." |
| Officers now believe the Canadian might have abused boys in Thailand as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia - and he could face charges in any of those countries. | Officers now believe the Canadian might have abused boys in Thailand as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia - and he could face charges in any of those countries. |
| He could also be charged in Canada, which has laws allowing for the prosecution of its nationals for child-sex crimes committed abroad. | He could also be charged in Canada, which has laws allowing for the prosecution of its nationals for child-sex crimes committed abroad. |
| Thai police have appealed for more victims to come forward and indicated he would be charged in Thailand, but they did not rule out the possibility of extradition. | Thai police have appealed for more victims to come forward and indicated he would be charged in Thailand, but they did not rule out the possibility of extradition. |
| Mr Neil, from British Columbia, has been teaching at schools in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam since 2000. | Mr Neil, from British Columbia, has been teaching at schools in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam since 2000. |