Trial court hears from 120 abuse victims across network case
Trial reveals 120 child victims exploited through international network, with victims spanning France and multiple countries.
Event / Security
French Child Sexual Abuse Network Trial
Gendarme investigation dismantled an online child sexual abuse network operating through encrypted messaging services. Four men aged 37-64 face trial in Loiret for victimizing 120 children, including 21 French victims aged 3-15, with over 930,000 abuse files recovered.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 8 Jun, 08:37 UTC
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What happened
Four men tried for online child abuse network involving 120 victims
Four men aged 37 to 64 were tried before the criminal court of Loiret starting June 8, 2026 for membership in an online child sexual abuse network. They are suspected of using fake profiles to approach victims, consultation, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, and two also face charges for rape of minors under 15 years old.
Six arrests made in child sexual abuse network investigation between April and November 2023
Investigations into the online child abuse network led to the arrest of six individuals between April and November 2023.
Suspect arrested in Belgium in 2023 sentenced to ten years imprisonment in 2025
Another individual arrested in Belgium in November 2023 in a state of recidivism was sentenced to ten years imprisonment in early 2025.
Three defendants apologize to victims' families at opening of trial
At the opening of the trial hearing, three of the four accused men presented their apologies to the families of the victims. The fourth defendant, appearing free, acknowledged the facts.
120 child victims identified in online abuse network, 21 of them French
A total of 120 victims were identified in the investigation, including 21 French nationals aged 3 to 15 years old, all of whom were interviewed by authorities.
One suspect in child abuse network dies by suicide in detention
One of the six individuals arrested in connection with the online child sexual abuse network died by suicide while in provisional detention.
Investigation dismantles child sexual abuse network operating on encrypted messaging platforms
An investigation initiated in 2022 by gendarmes following infiltration on social media dismantled multiple groups using encrypted messaging services including ICQ, Snapchat, and Telegram to exchange child sexual abuse material and contact minors. The network operated without formal hierarchy but was structured around group administrators and active users sharing files.
930,000 child sexual abuse files discovered in network investigation
Police perquisitions uncovered more than 930,000 child sexual abuse files including photos and videos as part of the investigation into the online child abuse network.
Four men tried for online child sexual abuse network in Loiret
Four men aged 37 to 64 stood trial starting Monday before the criminal court of Loiret for suspected membership in an online child sexual abuse network. The investigation began in 2022 following gendarme infiltration of social media, dismantling multiple groups using encrypted messaging services including ICQ, Snapchat, and Telegram to exchange child sexual abuse material and contact minors.
Two defendants face rape charges involving minors under 15
Two of the four defendants faced additional charges for rape committed against minors under 15 years of age. One 64-year-old defendant was suspected of sexually assaulting and raping a young girl multiple times.
Suspects used grooming tactics to exploit minors
The suspects used grooming techniques to build trust with young victims in order to obtain sexual images or videos appearing consensual. The most active members also used additional methods including filming in public places and assaulting girls from their social circles. Network members allegedly placed bets on who would first obtain naked images of a young minor.
Over 930,000 child sexual abuse files discovered in network investigation
Police searches discovered a total of over 930,000 child sexual abuse files, including photos and videos, during the dismantling of the network. The investigation identified 120 total victims, of which 21 were identified French children aged 3 to 15 years old.
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2 alternative perspectives
Trial begins for four men accused of operating child abuse network
Four men tried in France for running online child abuse network with 930,000+ files seized.