Police smash global pedophile ring, arresting 700 people and rescuing 31 children

Police shattered a global Internet pedophile ring, rescuing 31 children and rounding up more than 700 suspects worldwide, authorities said Monday.

Photo: Police smash global pedophile ring, arresting 700 people and rescuing 31 children

Some 200 suspects are based in the United Kingdom, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center said. The ring was traced to an Internet chat room called "Kids the Light of Our Lives" that featured images of children being subjected to horrific sexual abuse.

The investigation involves agencies from 35 countries and has gone on for 10 months.

Authorities said the host of the Web site, Timothy David Martyn Cox, 27, of Buxhall, who used the online identity "Son of God," admitted to nine counts of possessing and distributing indecent images.

After his arrest in September, authorities were able to infiltrate the chat room and collect evidence on the other members.