A former Norwegian kindergarten employee faces expanded charges for distributing child abuse material globally through dark web networks. Police confirm the suspect shared images of his own crimes with international pedophile networks. The case now involves 17 identified victims from two Ullensaker municipality kindergartens where the man worked between 2015 and 2018.
Eastern Police District prosecutor Jeanette Svendsen described the distribution as a severe secondary violation against already victimized children. Digital evidence shows the man prepared and shared files through multiple dark web accounts. Technical analysis revealed custom filenames and watermarks containing his username on distributed materials.
Norwegian authorities collaborated with Europol and Australian police to track the international distribution. Investigators recovered 58 of the man's self-produced files during an Australian seizure operation earlier this quarter. The international cooperation demonstrated how locally produced abuse material quickly circulates through global criminal networks.
The suspect initially admitted guilt for most charges but denied distributing materials. When confronted with Europol evidence during Wednesday's interrogation, he claimed unfamiliarity with the distribution activity. He maintains this position despite technical evidence linking his accounts to the shared files.
Police discovered the abuse material during a May raid prompted by multiple tips about child exploitation content downloads. Officers seized an external hard drive containing approximately 342,000 images and videos sexualizing children. Nearly half represented original content produced by the suspect himself.
Norwegian child protection systems face scrutiny following this case. The extended abuse period across multiple kindergartens raises questions about institutional safeguards. Norway's typically robust child welfare framework appears to have failed these victims despite comprehensive background check systems.
The timing of the dark web distribution remains uncertain. Police confirmed the original images date from 2015 and 2016 but circulated internationally by this fall. Authorities delayed announcing the distribution aspect to protect the primary victim and her guardians from additional trauma.
This case highlights challenges in combating dark web child exploitation networks. Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service provided technical assistance to trace the international distribution pathways. The collaboration demonstrates how national police forces must operate across jurisdictions to combat digital child exploitation.
The suspect faces charges including aggravated rape of children under 14, attempted rape, sexual acts with children, and production and possession of child abuse material. He acknowledges most charges except weapons possession and one physical abuse allegation from 2018. The dark web distribution evidence doesn't alter existing charges since he already faced indictment for illegal file sharing.