German police arrest 11 after online pedophile ring meets up

USPA News - A group of ten men and one woman, believed to be core members of an online pedophile ring that is operating across Germany, were arrested on Saturday night after they met up for an annual meeting, authorities said on Sunday. The arrests took place on Saturday evening in the central town of Aschersleben in Saxony-Anhalt state after the suspects, identified only as ten men aged 22 to 60 and a 57-year-old woman, had wrapped up their annual meeting which involved a visit to a children`s flea market and the town`s zoo. Saxony-Anhalt Police said the group of pedophiles used their own children to come into contact with other young children, though it was not immediately clear whether the suspects had committed crimes during Saturday`s meeting or if they had made contact with children at the market or zoo.

"It was discovered that the group, which operates extremely discreet and careful, even leaves the virtual world of the Internet for a conspiratorial meeting to exchange information, make new contacts and probably to prepare criminal offenses," a police spokesperson said. "All eleven people were taken into custody without resistance," the spokesperson said, adding that the investigation was continuing and more details would be released at a later date.