Bruges man used daughters in porn

1 November 2007

BRUSSELS – French police arrested at least 20 people during a European-wide action against child pornography. Those arrested are suspected of distributing internet files containing child pornography. Three suspects also reportedly abused children on trips abroad. Among those arrested is a Bruges man who made pornographic films of this daughters aged 6, 8 and 10.

The operation, in which Belgian, German, Italian and British authorities also took part, was led by Europol and Eurojust. It is not clear exactly how many arrests were made. The suspects in France were traced using three thousand email addresses which the police came upon in their investigation. The investigation started in 2006 on the basis of information from Australian police.

1.5 million illegal pictures were found on the computer of a 30-year-old IT worker who lives with his grandparents. A French doctor who moved to Thailand after his license was revoked is also among the suspects. He was arrested on a recent visit to France.

The French also report that one man has been arrested in Bruges for the pornographic films he made of his young daughters. The Bruges man reportedly informed police about an Italian filmmaker who made child porn films in a studio in the Ukraine.

Another 300 people were recently arrested in France on charges of distributing child porn on the internet, but these arrests were not in connection with this week’s European action. Because of the Australian connection the most recent action has been dubbed operation Koala.

Subject: Belgian news