Interpol in rare public appeal to catch paedophile
Interpol launched a worldwide appeal to the public today to help identify a man suspected of sexually abusing young boys from Southeast Asia - images of whom were spread through the internet.
It was only the second time that the international police agency has appealed directly to the public for help in identifying a suspected paedophile. The first time, last October, rapidly led to an arrest.
The suspect in the latest case is a white man, shown with grey, thinning hair in six photos released by Interpol. He appeared to be in his late 40s or early 50s in the images.
Interpol said that despite two years of investigations, it and other police agencies have so far been unable to determine his identity, nationality or whereabouts - hence the decision to appeal publicly for information.
"The law enforcement community around the world has done all it can to find this man who clearly presents a danger to young children, and we are now asking the public to help identify this predator and protect other potential victims from abuse," Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble said in a statement.
In interviews at the agency's headquarters in Lyon, France, Interpol officials said they had recovered photos of the man that allegedly show him sexually abusing at least three boys, apparently aged between six and 10 years old.
The boys appear to be from Southeast Asia - though Interpol officials declined to specify any possible countries.
Kristin Kvigne, assistant director of Interpol's division that combats people trafficking, said it was impossible to know how many other children the man could have abused.
"There are at least three child victims that are in the images, but it could be more," she said in an interview.
Kvigne said the photos show "severe abuse" by the man but she declined to go into detail.
