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17 Brits held over 'child abuse streamed live from Philippines'

17 Brits have been arrested after UK police joined forces with Australian and US investigators to smash a paedophile ring which streamed live child abuse from the Philippines.

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Police target 'extremely dangerous' child sex offenders

The National Crime Agency said that a joint police investigation had identified "extremely dangerous child sexual offenders".

This investigation has identified some extremely dangerous child sexual offenders who believed paying for children to be abused to order was something they could get away with.

Being thousands of miles away makes no difference to their guilt. In my mind they are just as responsible for the abuse of these children as the contact abusers overseas.

Protecting the victims of abuse is our priority and that means attacking every link in the chain, from dismantling the organised groups who are motivated by profit through to targeting their customers.

– Andy Baker from the National Crime Agency

So far 15 children aged six to 15 have been rescued after being identified as victims. In some cases their own relatives sold them for abuse.

In the UK five of the 17 suspects arrested have been convicted, nine investigations are ongoing, one will face no further action and two are dead.

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