BERLIN (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of participating in an extensive online campaign involving cybergrooming and virtual sexual abuse of children. Authorities have reported that he allegedly pressured a 13-year-old American boy to commit suicide and livestream the act. The suspect, a German-Iranian national, was arrested on Tuesday at his parents' apartment in Hamburg. His name has not been disclosed due to German privacy regulations, and he has yet to face formal charges, having denied any wrongdoing during a closed-court appearance.
Officials described the accused's actions as exceeding human imagination, with Hamburg Attorney General Jörg Fröhlich expressing grave concerns during a news conference. This case highlights the alarming issues of online exploitation and the severe psychological impact it can have on vulnerable children.
The suspect is alleged to be part of a malicious international cybergrooming network known as “764,” which the FBI has identified as a violent online group that coerces minors into self-harm and sexual abuse. He is suspected of committing 120 crimes against eight victims, aged between 11 and 15, who are from various countries, including Germany, England, Canada, and the U.S. Among the victims is a 14-year-old Canadian girl who made an unsuccessful suicide attempt.
In the disturbing case involving the 13-year-old American boy, authorities stated that the suspect utilized another underage victim as a means to pressure his target. The incidents reportedly occurred over the internet between 2021, when the suspect was still a minor, and 2023. The suspect preyed on children in online forums, particularly those discussing suicidal thoughts and self-harm, using the pseudonym “White Tiger.” Investigators believe he took advantage of their vulnerabilities to force them into creating pornographic and violent recordings, which often involved self-injury.
Hamburg police chief Falk Schnabel remarked on the shocking nature of these crimes, emphasizing the depths of depravity involved. The suspect reportedly recorded these abusive acts, keeping them as trophies, and subsequently used them to further manipulate his victims by threatening to release the footage unless they performed additional acts of self-harm on camera.
Authorities announced that they aim to raise awareness about the case to help prevent future instances of online abuse. They hope that public knowledge of the arrest will serve as a deterrent within the online community, with Attorney General Fröhlich stating that the dissemination of this news could potentially protect other children from falling victim to similar crimes.
