Europol arrests 112 in child porn crackdown

Balfie

Police across 22 countries arrested 112 people on suspicion of sharing images of child sex abuse on the internet.
The European law enforcement agency, Europol, said the operation had uncovered previously unknown networks of offenders operating on different internet channels.
In house-to-house searches across the continent, "Operation Icarus" swooped on previously unknown networks of child sex offenders who were sharing videos online.
"The operation targeted those sharing the most extreme forms of video material, which included babies and toddlers being sexually abused and raped," Europol said in a statement.
So much material was seized it will take months or even years to analyse.
The year-long investigation, led by Danish police, will now focus on identifying the people who produced the videos, as well as their child victims.
Europol Director Rob Wainwright said the operation showed that the internet was helping offenders develop better file sharing techniques and ways to protect their identity.
One Swiss man arrested had 36,000 hours of video on his computer equipment, a Europol spokesman said.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the case showed the importance of Europol and national forces working together on appalling crimes that knew no borders.
"These children are victims of multiple crimes. First, when the actual abuse takes place. Then, when it is filmed. And, thereafter, every time the images are posted, circulated or viewed," she said in a statement.

This has to be one of the sickest things I have read in a long time! Seriously! Can't believe what some people can do. The parts that I put in bold seriously make me wanna throw up. How any person can do something to a child is sickening. Babies being sexually abused and raped. Sickening.

Makes me ashamed to be human sometimes.

RTE.ie Source.

RachaelVO

Sound like it was a successful operation.

I'm a bit sickened reading the article though. 36000 hours of child porn? The mind boggles at that sort of twistedness!

Richard Hillman

RachaelVO wrote: »

Sound like it was a successful operation.

I'm a bit sickened reading the article though. 36000 hours of child porn? The mind boggles at that sort of twistedness!

I'd say the server they were sharing it on was his.

mike65

Its a compulsion, they know they'll never see more than a fraction of it and but have to acquire as much as possible. One of the arrested is in Ireland.

ItsAWindUp

F ucking bastards.

GarIT

It's terrifying how much of this stuff there is, and how many sick people there must be out there.

Any more details on the Irish person?

El Horseboxo

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

WindSock

Where do they get the children? Are they mostly their own?

Balfie

GarIT wrote: »

It's terrifying how much of this stuff there is, and how many sick people there must be out there.

Any more details on the Irish person?

Nah hasn't been any details released, they don't normally release stuff like that in cases like this I don't think anyways.. I could be wrong tho.

But BreakingNews.ie Put the story up, saying that the Garda confirmed they arrested someone.

Gardaí have confirmed one person has been arrested in Ireland in connection with a major international investigation into online child pornography.

One hundred and twelve people have been arrested across 26 countries as part of the probe.

Gardaí searched the homes of five people, and arrested one man.

According to Europol - the agency leading the investigation - some of the most extreme forms of video material was seized, which included babies and toddlers being sexually abused and raped.

'Operation Icarus' is continuing and more arrests are expected.

Europol spokesperson Soren Pedersen said once the material was examined, it was likely more evidence and wider links would be uncovered, and that more arrests were therefore expected

stovelid

Delighted to hear they've been apprehended.

ItsAWindUp

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

Fair play to you.

ItsAWindUp

Balfie wrote: »

Nah hasn't been any details released, they don't normally release stuff like that in cases like this I don't think anyways.. I could be wrong tho.

But BreakingNews.ie Put the story up, saying that the Garda confirmed they arrested someone.

I hope they throw the book at him

cloud493

They should be locked up and the key thrown away, sick ****ers, makes me sick to my stomach to think people like that were walking the streets.

Balfie

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

I can honestly say, that is one thing that I don't envy you for buddy. I honestly don't know how ya do it. I know someone has to, but I know full well that I couldn't.

suicide_circus

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

If true, isnt that something you shouldnt talk about on a public internet forum?

Balfie

suicide_circus wrote: »

If true, isnt that something you shouldnt talk about on a public internet forum?

He hasn't released any details about it, just that he has seen things that came up as part of it. People see things all the time. Can talk about it, without giving exact details.

Not that that should be your main worry in a thread like this.

El Horseboxo

suicide_circus wrote: »

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

If true, isnt that something you shouldnt talk about on a public internet forum?

I haven't and won't be releasing any specifics about op icarus. 99% of the above post was about my job in general and how I feel about people who commit these crimes and how difficult it can be to convict. I know well the limitations of revealing information regarding my role.

Crazy Horse 6

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded. I'll never get to come face to face with any of the perpetrators but I reckon I'd have been long locked up if I did. How the police arrest these sick fúcks without any claims of brutality is beyond me. A lot will be open and shut cases despite taking a long time to bring to sentence. But a good few scumbags will walk. I've sat in on some court proceedings and they can be very difficult to convict depending on the country they get tried in.

Are you a Garda? If so with the case still in progress should'nt you not discuss the case in public until all these weidos are convicted.

Balfie

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Are you a Garda? If so with the case still in progress should'nt you not discuss the case in public until all these weidos are convicted.

He answered that just above your post.

An alot more than just Garda are involved in cases like these.

Dudess

WindSock wrote: »

Where do they get the children? Are they mostly their own?

Yeah that is one of the unpalatable questions going through my head - a trafficking operation of babies... holy fuk, please don't let something like that exist.

No doubt it does...

El Horseboxo, I assume there is a counselling programme on offer for personnel investigating this sick sh1t?

RachaelVO

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I'd say the server they were sharing it on was his.

Could well be. Still though! I mean seriously, every time I think about it I feel nauseous!

A massive police operation only arrested 112 of these disgusting non-people and yet Anonymous were able to bring down the largest child porn ring and then publish the details of 1,000+ of these non-people. Perhaps the police should change their tactics.

RachaelVO

Dudess wrote: »

Yeah that is one of the unpalatable questions going through my head - a trafficking operation of babies... holy fuk, please don't let something like that exist.

No doubt it does...

El Horseboxo, I assume there is a counselling programme on offer for personnel investigating this sick sh1t?

Jesus, the idea of it! Even the concept of such a thing hurts my head and breaks my heart. I mean how.. why... what the. I just can't even conceive of such a thing.

El Horseboxo, have to take my hat off to ya, cos I can only use my imagination and that's bad enough, but to have seen even 1 of those images would turn me into a raving loo laa, I am pretty sure I just couldn't cope with it! I hope to fuk that there is some for of counselling for you there, cos god know if it was me I'd need it!

Balfie

Deleted User wrote: »

A massive police operation only arrested 112 of these disgusting non-people and yet Anonymous were able to bring down the largest child porn ring and then publish the details of 1,000+ of these non-people. Perhaps the police should change their tactics.

The difference being, the Police have laws and court systems to abide by, Anonymous don't exactly care. If the Police want a conviction they have to do everything by the law. An 112 people is massive for them, over so many countries all co-operating together to take these scum out.

RachaelVO

Deleted User wrote: »

A massive police operation only arrested 112 of these disgusting non-people and yet Anonymous were able to bring down the largest child porn ring and then publish the details of 1,000+ of these non-people. Perhaps the police should change their tactics.

The thing with Anonymous is, is that they're not subject to proceedures. If the police want a case to stick they have to do it right. Morally I would like to think they'd go in all guns blazing and knock the d1cks off these dirtbags, but in as much as I'm sure they would love to, it would do more harm than good!

RachaelVO

Balfie wrote: »

The difference being, the Police have laws and court systems to abide by, Anonymous don't exactly care. If the Police want a conviction they have to do everything by the law. An 112 people is massive for them, over so many countries all co-operating together to take these scum out.

Yep, and there is a big chance it will lead to more arrests (hopefully)

RedXIV

Balfie wrote: »

The difference being, the Police have laws and court systems to abide by, Anonymous don't exactly care. If the Police want a conviction they have to do everything by the law. An 112 people is massive for them, over so many countries all co-operating together to take these scum out.

Beauty of that though is that Anonymous don't have to jump through hoops to publish a list of names, they can just upload it wherever they like. I hope they keep it up to be honest. While the law enforcement process is a better one for these sickos to be subjected to, I'm sure the thoughts of having their name posted online with the title of "peado" should be enough to put off at least some.

Fair play to the cops etc in this operation, as said above, I'd be prone to letting these guys fall down the stairs if I was there....several times

RachaelVO

RedXIV wrote: »

Beauty of that though is that Anonymous don't have to jump through hoops to publish a list of names, they can just upload it wherever they like. I hope they keep it up to be honest. While the law enforcement process is a better one for these sickos to be subjected to, I'm sure the thoughts of having their name posted online with the title of "peado" should be enough to put off at least some.

Fair play to the cops etc in this operation, as said above, I'd be prone to letting these guys fall down the stairs if I was there....several times

Have to agree with all of that.

Gotta say though, I'm not inclined to think they'd be falling down a few flights of stairs, an elevator shaft maybe, but then that would be too good for them.

Now a hot chip pan, their hands, feel and willies... now that MIGHT be getting closer to the mark!

44leto

Disgusting stuff and well done interpol. Weird, what is the kink, pain, power, I heard on the radio there are images of babies and toddlers, fukcen hell, I actually worked with a guy who was caught with a lot of stuff on his computer. I never would have known or even guessed.

Balfie

RachaelVO wrote: »

Have to agree with all of that.

Gotta say though, I'm not inclined to think they'd be falling down a few flights of stairs, an elevator shaft maybe, but then that would be too good for them.

Now a hot chip pan, their hands, feel and willies... now that MIGHT be getting closer to the mark!

Burning needles through the eye balls so they can never look at that kinda stuff again.. An chop their balls off. What makes it more sickening is the thought that women are involved in it too, and that the 112 people arrested today is possibly not even 1% of the people involved in this kinda thing. Makes my stomach turn.

How people can even subject a child to something like that, even a baby to something like that.. It's really and truly turning my stomach.

mikom

RachaelVO wrote: »

Now a hot chip pan, their hands, feel and willies... now that MIGHT be getting closer to the mark!

Yep, because all child molesters and child porn addicts are men.

mal1

suicide_circus wrote: »

If true, isnt that something you shouldnt talk about on a public internet forum?

I agree. It's just not professional.

RachaelVO

mikom wrote: »

Yep, because all child molesters and child porn addicts are men.

It would be true to say that the bigger percentage are men, but yes women are involved too...

Don't women have hands and feet???? The'd do well in a chip pan too

rainbowtrout

Awful, sickening stuff.

The idea of anyone doing anything like this to babies and toddlers, or older children for that matter is sickening enough.

But babies and toddlers are fairly helpless by nature and are dependent on adults for survival, so the idea that someone feeds them their bottle, changes a nappy for them and hands them over to be raped and sexually abused is really hard to comprehend.

I don't think there's another species on the planet that treats their own as bad as (some) humans do.

RedXIV

rainbowtrout wrote: »

I don't think there's another species on the planet that treats their own as bad as (some) humans do.

....well i did have hamsters once who ate their young....thats probably worse.

On the punishment scale, i'd be partial to chemical castration myself. Basically kill off the pleasure centre of the brain and let them live the rest of their lives without any urges of any kind. This is often viewed as more barbaric but one good deed deserves another

WolfForager

They arrested one person in this country?

Whoever it was should be chained to a wall and every person in the country should be entitled to one good punch at the ****er.

AstridBean

suicide_circus wrote: »

If true, isnt that something you shouldnt talk about on a public internet forum?

Yeah, seems unprofessional. I'm dubious.

losthorizon

WindSock wrote: »

Where do they get the children? Are they mostly their own?

There are loads of missing children in Ireland never mind Europe and also you have trafficking of people and I would imagine you have some sick parents or guardians too. Its always the weakest who suffer most wether its the oldest or youngest.

AstridBean

Balfie wrote: »

What makes it more sickening is the thought that women are involved in it too

Why does that make it MORE sickening? It's equally sickening either way.

vibe666

El Horseboxo wrote: »

My department was involved in assisting this. The last month has been especially flat out and I unfortunately ended up with images I'll never erase from my mind as they need need to be visually proofed before moving to process. The worst being the part you had bolded.

I'm sitting here looking at my baby son sleeping soundly and I'm hoping and praying that everything I can do is enough to protect him from ever being exposed to anything like that. I know there isn't anything I wouldn't do to protect him because it's my job, but I'd like to offer my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone you work with for what you are doing, however big or small your part might be, to expose yourself to that kind of thing to bring those sick fcuks to justice and protect children you don't know and you'll never even get to meet is truly admirable.

Balfie

AstridBean wrote: »

Why does that make it MORE sickening? It's equally sickening either way.

Yeah your right it is equally sickening.

What I ment by it is women are generally more caring by nature. Most women when they see a baby, a motherly instinct kicks in, not an instinct to want to rape and molest a baby.

It is equally sickening, you are right.

AstridBean

Balfie wrote: »

Yeah your right it is equally sickening.

What I ment by it is women are generally more caring by nature. Most women when they see a baby, a motherly instinct kicks in, not an instinct to want to rape and molest a baby.

It is equally sickening, you are right.

Ah yeah, I get ya now.

Balfie

vibe666 wrote: »

I'm sitting here looking at my baby son sleeping soundly and I'm hoping and praying that everything I can do is enough to protect him from ever being exposed to anything like that. I know there isn't anything I wouldn't do to protect him because it's my job, but I'd like to offer my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone you work with for what you are doing, however big or small your part might be, to expose yourself to that kind of thing to bring those sick fcuks to justice and protect children you don't know and you'll never even get to meet is truly admirable.

Honestly couldn't have said it better myself.

I actually admire you El Horseboxo, cause as I've said I know I wouldn't be able to do it, so to know that there is someone out there trying to make that difference is a good thing to know. Fair play to ya I say!

Dudess

Culturally, we tend to be wired to be more shocked by women being sexually depraved to the vulnerable. Think West, Hindley. It's not right perhaps - I suppose sexist against both genders. But when the norm that's constantly fed is women as carers, nurturers moreso than men... well, that's where it comes from.

joseph brand

Lock them up indefinitely. They cannot be cured and will always pose a threat to children either directly or indirectly.

AskMyChocolate

WolfForager wrote: »

They arrested one person in this country?

Whoever it was should be chained to a wall and every person in the country should be entitled to one good punch at the ****er.

Let's just hope that they've learned from previous mistakes, and have made sure that the arrest warrant was correctly dated and all the "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed. We don't want people walking away from crimes like this on technicalities.

Also let's hope that the DPPs in all 26 countries are given whatever powers they need, to maximise all and any pressure, to force those arrested to divulge whatever information they may have to bring any other culprits, the producers of the content, and ringleaders to justice. The threat of consecutive sentences, rather than concurrent ones, for each and every one of the images downloaded would do nicely for a start.

Balfie

RTE.ie update

Gardaí say a person arrested in Ireland in connection with a Europe-wide operation targetting the online sharing of child sex abuse images was arrested within the last month.
The person's case is being processed through the courts.
Police across 22 countries arrested 112 people on suspicion of sharing images of child sex abuse on the internet.
The European law enforcement agency, Europol, said the operation had uncovered previously unknown networks of offenders operating on different internet channels.
In house-to-house searches across the continent, "Operation Icarus" swooped on previously unknown networks of child sex offenders who were sharing videos online.
"The operation targeted those sharing the most extreme forms of video material, which included babies and toddlers being sexually abused and raped," Europol said in a statement.
So much material was seized it will take months or even years to analyse.
The year-long investigation, led by Danish police, will now focus on identifying the people who produced the videos, as well as their child victims.
Europol Director Rob Wainwright said the operation showed that the internet was helping offenders develop better file sharing techniques and ways to protect their identity.
One Swiss man arrested had 36,000 hours of video on his computer equipment, a Europol spokesman said.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the case showed the importance of Europol and national forces working together on appalling crimes that knew no borders.
"These children are victims of multiple crimes. First, when the actual abuse takes place. Then, when it is filmed. And, thereafter, every time the images are posted, circulated or viewed," she said in a statement.

suicide_circus

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I haven't and won't be releasing any specifics about op icarus. 99% of the above post was about my job in general and how I feel about people who commit these crimes and how difficult it can be to convict. I know well the limitations of revealing information regarding my role.

Fair enough. However it is an ongoing criminal case and an extremely sensitive issue and as such, in your shoes, I would be saying absolutely nothing to anybody until it is all done and dusted, but sure it's your call.

HovaBaby

How do people actually get turned on by this kind of stuff?

Dudess

HovaBaby wrote: »

How do people actually get turned on by this kind of stuff?

I guess if they do, it's not a choice, but to actually act on it...?!

Micky Dolenz

HovaBaby wrote: »

How do people actually get turned on by this kind of stuff?

Same way you get turned on by whatever floats your boat.