Authorities break up pedophile ring involving streaming of live child abuse in Philippines

LONDON – Child abuse investigators say authorities have dismantled an organized crime group that live streamed child sexual abuse to order from the Philippines.

Britain’s National Crime Agency says a joint investigation with authorities in the United States and Australia broke up the ring, resulting in 29 arrests for people in 12 countries who had paid to watch the abuse.

The agency says in a Wednesday statement that the crime group arranged for children to be sexually abused live on webcam. Members of the families of some of the children arranged for the abuse in some cases.

The investigation began after a routine visit to a registered sex offender in Britain. The probe began in 2012 and resulted in 15 children aged between 6 and 15 being safeguarded from abuse.