Berlin - The homes of 67 suspects have been searched in Germany
in a nationwide sweep against child pornography on the internet, the
public prosecutor in Frankfurt and the German Federal Office of
Criminal Investigation said on Thursday.
The searches occurred between July 5 and 19, and the suspects - aged
from 18 to 80 - are all believed to have exchanged pornographic
images and videos involving children over the online forum Chatstep.
The images contained severe sexual abuse of children, including
babies, and sexual violence against children.
In order to identify the suspects, the US service provider that runs
Chatstep cooperated with the German investigating authority.
The data storage devices seized from the suspects are being evaluated
and the investigation is ongoing.