In the case of mass sexual abuse of children in a campground in Lügde in North Rhine-Westphalia, the number of suspects has expanded to six. Three men are already in pre-trial detention as presumed culprits.
Against a further accused a procedure for suspicion of the criminal foiling was initiated, said NRW interior minister Herbert Reul (CDU) on Thursday in the interior committee of the parliament. According to news agency dpa, the person is in urgent suspicion to have manipulated data. She is not in custody.
In addition, there are currently two suspects suspected, Reul said. In these two cases, according to dpa, it is about aiding, not complicity.
On suspicion of serious sexual abuse of children and the spread of child pornography are the main suspects a 56-year-old from Lügde, a 33-year-old from Steinheim in North Rhine-Westphalia and a 48-year-old from Stade in Lower Saxony in custody. So far, 31 minor victims have been identified.
"My grandma realized that something was wrong"
Another investigative strand examines the behavior of the authorities. It is being investigated against two police officers, said Reul. In addition, it is being investigated against responsible employees of the youth welfare offices of the districts of Hameln-Pyrmont and Lippe for violation of the duty of care, as dpa states from a confidential report of Reul for the Interior Committee. How many people are involved is unclear.
The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether the two police officers had to initiate investigations in 2016. Although they had informed the youth welfare offices according to the previous state, they were not otherwise active. Only in November 2018, the case was flown for new clues.
Reul reaffirmed in the Interior Committee his allegation of official failure. "My grandma realized there was something wrong," he said. With an evaluation of the investigation against the police officers and employees of the youth welfare offices but kept back Reul. "Both policemen have taken action, but not completely," said the minister. But it was "not that they did not do anything". Disciplinary proceedings were instituted against both officials. At the same time, they are being prosecuted.
DPA
NRW Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul
Unlike Reul, the Attorney General Hamm does not see any reason to investigate the two police officers and youth welfare office workers in a preliminary preliminary assessment at the beginning of February. This assessment is in the confidential report of Reul.
The supervisory authority of the investigating prosecutor Detmold stresses, however, that the investigation against the officials and officials are not yet completed. The prosecutor Detmold must deliver a supplementary report to Hamm. "This report is not yet available," said a spokesman.
Reul wants to intensify the fight against child pornography. In the past, the acquisition of supportive evaluation software for the police had been neglected, he said in the Interior Committee. In this area will be upgraded now. He had arranged that the police headquarters Bielefeld immediately get such a software. In addition, he has assigned the state criminal police another 20 posts to strengthen the central evaluation of child pornography material.