The figure makes cold in the back. The German department of justice survey of some 30,000 people suspected to be involved in an extensive case of paedophilia in the west of the country, were announced on Monday 29 June 2020 local authorities. “We want to get out of the anonymity of the Internet authors who abuse children and those who support them “, said at a press conference Peter Biesenbach, the minister of Justice of the region of Rhineland-of-North-Westphalia, where the scandal erupted.
so far, about 70 people were suspected in the case, which began last fall in the city of Bergisch Gladbach. Several of them are currently on trial. They are believed to have for years abused children, abused them and have shared their misdeeds filmed on online discussion groups. Investigators have identified up to now at least 40 victims.
“The thresholds of inhibition are falling”
The German investigators were alerted by canadian police had discovered child pornography content from this region of western Germany. A man 42 years of age, whose trial is scheduled to start in August, has already been arrested. The investigators found in his apartment, huge quantities of child pornography. In the process, they have also revealed the existence of various discussion groups with thousands of participants. These are now the recipients of “cats” who find themselves in the crosshairs of German justice.
After several cases of pedophilia in recent years that have shocked the country, authorities have become more entrenched. “The authors who communicate in the forums consider the abuse of children as “normal” and found a large number of people sharing the same ideas. The levels of inhibition decrease. And it is this that characterizes the situation on the criminal level, ” said Peter Biesenbach. “If we want to actively fight against the abuse of children on the Internet, we must also talk about the legal regulations on data storage. One does not work without the other, ” he added.
