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NI trio held in net abuse probe Irish held in child porn inquiry
(about 15 hours later)
Three people from Northern Ireland have been arrested as part of a crackdown on a worldwide child pornography network. Eight people from Ireland - three from NI and five from the Republic - have been arrested in a police inquiry into a global paedophile ring.
The PSNI is one of 20 police forces involved in an investigation into an Italian-based website which sold home-made videos of sex abuse.The PSNI is one of 20 police forces involved in an investigation into an Italian-based website which sold home-made videos of sex abuse.
Police action is continuing, but 92 people have already been detained across eight countries. Already, 92 people have already been detained across eight countries.
The films were mainly produced in Ukraine, Belgium and the Netherlands, and most of the victims were Ukrainian. The films were mainly produced in Ukraine, Belgium and the Netherlands and most of the victims were Ukrainian.
Twenty-three children aged between nine and 16 who were shown being abused have been identified.Twenty-three children aged between nine and 16 who were shown being abused have been identified.
Individuals were willing to pay hundreds and hundreds of euros if, for example, their favourite model would do their particular pose Menno HagemeijerEuropol According to the European police force, Europol, the network created videos tailor-made to order of children being abused and sold them to 2,500 customers in 19 countries. According to the European police force, Europol, the network created videos tailor-made to order of children being abused and sold them to 2,500 customers in 19 countries.
The arrests included not only the network's operators but also its clients who viewed the explicit images.The arrests included not only the network's operators but also its clients who viewed the explicit images.
Europol analyst Menno Hagemeijer said they had tracked down large numbers of people who had paid to see the videos and photos.Europol analyst Menno Hagemeijer said they had tracked down large numbers of people who had paid to see the videos and photos.
"Individuals were willing to pay hundreds and hundreds of euros if, for example, their favourite model would do their particular pose," he said. He said pictures were found of children being forced to hold a piece of paper with the name of a ring member.
"We have found pictures of the models in which the model is holding a piece of paper with the name of the customer - a personal trophy."
In the Republic of Ireland, five searches were carried out during the summer and a number of seized computers are undergoing forensic examination.In the Republic of Ireland, five searches were carried out during the summer and a number of seized computers are undergoing forensic examination.
The investigation began in July 2006, when police in Australia found a video on the internet showing an adult abusing two young girls.The investigation began in July 2006, when police in Australia found a video on the internet showing an adult abusing two young girls.
The girls were identified by police in Belgium and the offender, their father, was arrested.The girls were identified by police in Belgium and the offender, their father, was arrested.
He in turn led investigators to the producer of the video, an Italian man who operated in Belgium and the Netherlands but also owned a studio in Ukraine.He in turn led investigators to the producer of the video, an Italian man who operated in Belgium and the Netherlands but also owned a studio in Ukraine.