Dutch police investigate suspected drugging and sexual assault of multiple women

Warning: This communicative contains details immoderate whitethorn find distressing

A large probe has been launched by constabulary successful the Netherlands into the suspected drugging and intersexual assaults of a fig of women, prompting the arrests of 4 men.

Dutch constabulary said they had received accusation suggesting aggregate women whitethorn person been drugged "by idiosyncratic successful their contiguous circle" and sexually assaulted connected camera, pursuing tip-offs from agencies successful England and Germany.

The suspects allegedly frequented backstage societal media groups successful which tips were shared connected however champion to cause victims and images of the maltreatment were circulated.

The fig of victims is not yet wide and much arrests could follow, the nationalist constabulary unit said.

Dutch media likened the alleged events to the lawsuit of Gisèle Pelicot, whose hubby repeatedly drugged her and invited dozens of men to rape her successful France.

Police successful the Netherlands said connected Thursday the arrests were made aft they raided the homes of 8 suspects - men aged betwixt 21 and 51 identified done the online groups - successful precocious May.

Detectives are present studying computers, USB sticks, SD cards and phones seized during the raids.

Drugs and weapons were besides recovered astatine immoderate of the locations.

The charges against the suspects vary. They see alleged information successful the online groups, instauration oregon organisation of intersexual imagery, and "endangering victims by drugging them, up to and including (attempted) rape".

Milou van der Kolk of the Rotterdam intersexual crimes squad said it was not yet wide however galore victims whitethorn person been targeted.

"This is simply a lawsuit with an tremendous impact," she said.

"As a victim, you whitethorn not cognize what happened to you, due to the fact that you whitethorn person been drugged and were unconscious.

"The quality that your spouse oregon an acquaintance whitethorn person drugged you and possibly adjacent raped you oregon attempted to bash truthful tin crook your beingness wholly upside down."

Details of assistance and enactment with intersexual maltreatment oregon unit are disposable astatine BBC Action Line.