Four Central Israel Residents Arrested in Child Abuse and Obscenity Probe

Police say four Central Israel residents were arrested on Friday in a cyber and child-protection investigation that exposed suspected sexual abuse of a minor, indecent acts, and the creation and distribution of obscene material. The probe, led by Lahav 433 Unit 105, began after another suspect in the case was investigated and an incident involving harm to a child surfaced.

A court allowed publication of details about one suspect, a man in his 30s from central Israel. He is suspected of possession and publication of obscene material depicting a minor under the care of an adult, providing false information, and committing indecent acts in aggravated circumstances by two or more people acting together. The court also permitted publication of the social media profiles he allegedly used on Telegram and Instagram to contact minors.

Police released images of the profiles and urged anyone who was harmed through those accounts to contact the 105 hotline for online child protection. In parallel, a statement of intent to indict was filed at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court against two of the female suspects, whose remand was extended until Thursday. Another suspect’s detention was extended until Friday while the investigation continues.

A senior Lahav 433 officer told N12 that investigators were deeply shaken by what they saw. “Some of the investigators will need medical treatment,” he said, adding that the suspects had shown and uploaded horrific pedophilic material in private groups. He said around 10 suspects are now involved and that indictments were filed last week in the case.