Hong Kong police detain 21 men over child sexual abuse image network

Police in Hong Kong seized smartphones, tablets, computers and external drives in an operation dubbed Bravestrike, uncovering over 7,200 illicit photos and 120 videos of children. The material was shared within a social-media group whose members, ranging from 19 to 47 years old, included a private tutor who allegedly photographed a female student’s private areas during lessons. Eight of the 21 arrested are charged with possessing child pornography; the remaining 13 are suspected of unlawfully recording and distributing intimate images.

Superintendent Wong Yick-lung said many of the recordings were made secretly in public spaces like shopping malls, escalators and MTR stations. The suspects have been granted bail and must report later this month, while police continue to identify victims and trace the content through Interpol’s International Child Sexual Exploitation database. Authorities are also seeking to dismantle the online group and remove the material from the internet.