Berlin: German police in the central Hesse region announced a major operation targeting child sexual abuse and child pornography, resulting in raids on dozens of properties. In the coordinated effort, law enforcement identified 48 male suspects aged between 15 and 68, during raids carried out in Frankfurt and surrounding areas between September 17 and 20.
Seven suspects are being investigated for the sexual abuse of minors, while the remaining individuals are suspected of purchasing, possessing, or distributing child pornography. Investigators clarified that they do not believe the suspects were in contact with each other.
The raids covered 48 locations across the region, with police seizing 317 data storage devices, including 88 smartphones, 34 computers, and 94 USB sticks, all of which are being examined for evidence. To tackle such crimes, the Hesse police force has assembled a dedicated team of 300 personnel, including over 170 investigators focused specifically on combating child sexual exploitation.