Police net eight Scots in major paedophile swoop

Eight men in Scotland have been arrested as part of a UK-wide operation targeting suspected internet paedophiles.

Eight men in Scotland have been arrested as part of a UK-wide operation targeting suspected internet paedophiles.

The operation, involving more than 40 police forces, has seen the arrest of more than 80 people across the UK in the past three days.

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Five men in Edinburgh were arrested and charged with possessing or sharing indecent images of children or with inappropriate use of electronic media.

And Strathclyde Police have arrested three men suspected of possessing child abuse images.

A 22-year-old man from Livingston was detained in connection with the investigation by Lothian and Borders Police. He has since been released pending further inquiries.

The force said they raided three addresses in and around Edinburgh, taking away media and computers for examination.

The arrests included a 29-year-old man from Midlothian, a 23-year-old from Dalkeith and a 34-year-old from the south of Edinburgh.

Also arrested were a 43-year-old man from the north of Edinburgh and a 34-year-old from the city.

Among those arrested in the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) raids across the UK were a Scout leader, a retired teacher and members of the armed forces.

Officers executed more than 143 search warrants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the operation led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.