Fifty-five men have been arrested in France this week as part of an operation to dismantle a suspected paedophile ring operating via the Telegram messaging app, authorities said Thursday, reports FRANCE 24.
The arrests took place in 42 departments over possession, distribution and regular viewing of pornography involving children “under the age of 10”, France’s OFMIN, an office tasked with preventing violence against minors, told AFP.
The arrests, which followed a ten-month investigation, took place from Monday to Thursday. The suspects, aged 25 to 75, include a priest, a paramedic and a music teacher.
The men exchanged messages on Telegram and were in contact with “extremely dangerous” paedophiles who have been in prison since last summer, Quentin Bevan, head of the OFMIN’s operational unit, told AFP.