Italy probes 53 for child porn on German Web site

PALERMO, Sicily, May 10 (Reuters) Italian police said they were investigating 53 people over an international Internet paedophile ring after a video was spotted on a German Web site showing a young girl being sexually abused.

Italian investigators working together with Interpol and German colleagues raided premises in 31 cities and towns including Rome, Naples and Palermo, police in Sicily said yesterday.

The investigation by police specialising in electronic communications followed a tip-off from an Italian Catholic group monitoring Web sites around the world for child pornography, the Association of don Fortunato Di Noto.

Italian media said two of the 53 had been arrested. One was identified as an unemployed man of 28 caught trying to circulate paedophile video material on the internet.

Reuters JK SBA VP0740