Nine men are arrested as police smash one of Australia's biggest sex rings – as cops reveal 'children were being raped and filmed' in the town where William Tyrrell went missing
- Police uncovered one of Australia's biggest child sex rings, arresting nine men
- Investigation began after videos of men alleged raping kids were posted online
- Two men, aged 21 and 26, were arrested at Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast
- It is the same town where missing boy William Tyrrell was last seen in 2014
- They allegedly filmed themselves raping boys aged between four and seven
One of Australia's largest child sex rings has been busted after disturbing footage of men allegedly raping young boys was shared on the darkweb.
Nine men were arrested across Australia on Thursday - including seven in New South Wales - over accusations they sexually assaulted children and later shared videos of their horrific crimes online.
Two of the men - aged 21 and 26 - were charged with allegedly raping eight children in Kendall, where missing boy William Tyrrell was last seen in September 2014.
Australian Federal Police have refused to comment on whether they believe any men in the child sex ring have links to William's disappearance.
One of the men previously worked at the childcare centre in the small country town. The Courier Mail reports.
One of Australia's largest child sex rings has been busted and nine men arrested after horror footage allegedly showing them raping young boys was shared on the darkweb
The AFP launched Operation Arkstone in February after disgusting footage allegedly showing some of the men performing sexual acts on young children was posted on the darkweb.
Previously arrests have been made in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.
'This is the biggest domestic child exploitation network uncovered in recent times,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Northern Command Lesa Gale told reporters on Friday.
'At least 14 children have been removed from harmful situations, with a total of 40 charges laid,' she said.
NSW detectives have been brought into assist in the investigation, with seven of the alleged offenders from the state.
The 26-year-old man was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years, two counts of produce child abuse material and two counts of possess/control child abuse material using carriage service.
The 21-year-old man was charged with six counts of sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years and possess child abuse material.
The men, who face child exploitation and child harm charges, appeared in Kempsey Local Court on Friday.
It's alleged that some of their victims were family members.
Their offending is alleged to have begun in 2018, but may have started earlier, police say.
Two of the men - aged 21 and 26 - were charged with allegedly raping eight children in Kendall, where missing boy William Tyrrell (pictured) was last seen in September 2014. The Australian Federal Police have refused to say if they believe any men have links to his disappearance
Police seized a cellphone (pictured) during the arrest of two men in New South Wales
Police executed search warrants at homes in New South Wales on Thursday
Police will allege in court that some of the accused men had sexually abused children known to them and recorded videos and photographs of the abuse to share with others online.
'The efforts of all officers involved in the investigation has resulted in at least 14 children removed from harmful situations, and saved from abuse in the future,' Assistant Commissioner Gale said.
'We are continuing to try to identify other children who we suspect were preyed on by individuals in the alleged network.
'It is heartbreaking to think of any child being sexually abused, but it strengthens our resolve to hunt down perpetrators and bring them to justice.
'Sexual abuse has a devastating impact on children and their families, and that abuse continues each and every time an image or video showing that crime is shared.'
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