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Raid in Lower Bavaria: Police dismantle child pornography network
On July 17, 2025, the police in Kelheim searched apartments on behalf of the public prosecutor's office due to investigations into child pornography.
Raid in Lower Bavaria: Police dismantle child pornography network
In a comprehensive operation, detectives searched apartments in several districts in Lower Bavaria on July 17, 2025. A total of 17 people are suspected of having obtained and distributed child pornographic content via messenger services. The searches took place in the districts of Kelheim, Landshut and Dingolfing-Landau and were supported by more than 30 officers from the Landshut criminal police and the Landshut public prosecutor's office. A specially trained data carrier sniffer dog was also deployed to support the investigation. Pfaffenhofen Today reports that the suspects include 16 men and one teenager, whose ages vary between 15 and 80 years.
The serious allegations concern acts that are said to have been committed between 2020 and the beginning of 2025. The police have already seized numerous pieces of evidence, including 11 cell phones, 2 tablets, several notebooks, PCs and over 50 storage media. Interestingly, the investigators also included banks and cryptocurrency data, as evidence from the USA pointed to suspicions against one of the suspects, who is said to have used cryptocurrency to acquire the content. Süddeutsche emphasizes that police authorities maintain international exchanges in order to combat such offenses efficiently.
Protecting children online
The police have made clear recommendations for dealing with such content. Affected people should definitely document all content and go to the police immediately instead of deleting it. It is also advisable to distance yourself from suspicious groups and question memberships in confusing chat groups. Online safety is more important than ever and parents are encouraged to actively protect their children and keep an eye on their cell phone usage.
An additional concern is the mental health of those affected. The feeling of being alone with explicit content can be stressful. Organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offer help to victims and their families. This institution not only provides support in crisis situations, but also enables contact with other families who are overcoming similar challenges. It is crucial that sufferers reach out to trusted adults or professionals for support.
These investigations clearly show how necessary it is to raise awareness about protecting children in the digital space. Police remain vigilant and emphasize the seriousness of these crimes, while calling on society to take notice and take action to protect children from exploitation.