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Arrests in US as investigation into Amsterdam paedophile network continues

Three men have been arrested in the United States in connection with an international paedophile ring that targeted children at Amsterdam nurseries.

The trio were traced through child pornography distributed by Robert M., a nursery worker who has admitted abusing 87 children aged two and a half or younger.

One of the US suspects has been jailed for 22 years, while two of them were in contact with M. through online forums and chat rooms.

After M.’s arrest, his contacts in the US changed their user names and details in an attempt to deceive the authorities, according to researchers for the TV documentary series Nieuwsuur.

M., aged 28, and his partner Richard van O., 38, are among a group of 11 men in the Netherlands who are suspected of sharing thousands of indecent images of children.

They are expected to stand trial next year. Under Dutch media law defendants in court cases cannot be identified by their full names.

The investigation began last November when another American, Robert D., was found with 27,000 pictures on his computer, including one of Robert M. with a toddler.

One of the suspects, a 24-year-old British man, died last year from an ecstasy overdose, while a 50-year-old suspect from Dinteloord committed suicide in March shortly after he was questioned by police.

See also: Amsterdam nursery worker who abused dozens of children appears in court

Source: NRC: Arrestaties en veroordeling in Amerika vanwege Robert M.

Photo by jisc.ac.uk