Interpol publishes face of child abuser
An international public appeal has been launched by Interpol to identify a man shown sexually abusing children in images posted on the internet.
The man is seen in around 200 photographs, which feature the abuse of 12 young boys. It has been established that the images were taken in Vietnam and Cambodia.
It is the first time Interpol has taken the step of issuing such an appeal.
Although the original photographs were digitally altered by either the man or an accomplice to disguise his face, specialists from Germany’s federal police agency, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), working with Interpol’s Trafficking in Human Beings Unit have been able to produce an identifiable image of him.
But despite global efforts to identify and locate the man, through Interpol’s network of 186 bureaux, his identity and nationality remain unknown.
Interpol secretary general Ronald K Noble said: “For years, images of this man sexually abusing children have been circulating on the internet.
“We have tried all other means to identify and to bring him to justice, but we are now convinced that without the public’s help, this sexual predator could continue to rape and sexually abuse young children whose ages appear to range from six to early teens.
“We have very good reason to believe that he travels the world in order to sexually abuse and exploit vulnerable children and, as a 186-member country police organisation, Interpol is uniquely positioned to co-ordinate this global effort to identify and bring him to justice.”
Kristin Kvigne, assistant director of Interpol’s Trafficking in Human Beings Unit, said: “The decision to make public this man’s picture was not one which was taken lightly, but after thoughtful consideration and with the full agreement of experts from Interpol’s member countries dedicated to fighting this appalling criminal activity.
“We are certainly not encouraging members of the public to take any direct action themselves, particularly since any positive identification would need to be confirmed by law enforcement authorities, but if anyone recognises this person, or has any information that could help investigators, please contact the police or Interpol national central bureau in your country.”
A number of images of the man were posted on Interpol’s website today.
They show a white man, with dark, unkempt, receding hair.
In one of the images he is wearing glasses, while in another he is smiling.
It is thought the photographs were taken in 2002 or 2003.
