Last update - 00:00 12/03/2008
Police detain 30 suspects in alleged nation-wide pedophile ring
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
Police have held 30 people for questioning on Wednesday suspected of possessing and distributing pedophile movies via the internet that depict adults having sex with children.
Police said that they think additional people are involved.
Interpol tipped off police officials here that a group of Israelis had hacked into a legitimate website and was using it as a way to spread around the movies. Following the tip, the homes of the suspects were raided and their computers confiscated.
Most of those arrested are not familiar to police. Among those held for questioning, however, is a business man who was convicted of pedophilia in the past.
According to police, pedophiles around the world hack into websites in order to find a clandestine way to spread the illegal material.
"We are currently examining ways of incorporating advanced technologies as a way to counter these complex crimes," a police official said in a statement.