Seven men charged in Bristol child sexual exploitation investigation | UK news
Seven men have been charged with alleged crimes against 11 young girls as part of an investigation into what police in Bristol are calling “group-based child sexual abuse”.
The men are accused of more than 40 crimes from 2022 until this year. The investigation began in November 2023 after concerns were raised about the sexual exploitation of a young girl.
The men were appearing at Bristol magistrates’ court on Wednesday. The girls were teenagers at the time of the alleged crimes.
Avon and Somerset police said they were:
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Mohamed Arafe, 19, of Speedwell, Bristol. He was charged with five counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual abuse of a child, one of causing or encouraging the sexual abuse of a child, one of sexual assault, one of relating to the supply of cocaine and one of relating to the supply of ecstasy.
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Sina Omari, 20, of Fishponds in Bristol. He was charged with two counts of rape, four counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual abuse of a child, one count of causing or encouraging the sexual abuse of a child, two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of supplying cocaine and one count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.
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Wadie Sharaf, 21, from Redland in Bristol. He was charged with one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual activity with a child.
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Hussain Bashar, 19, of Southmead, Bristol. He was accused of rape once.
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Mohammed Kurdi, 21, from Henbury in Bristol. He was charged with two counts of rape, two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual abuse of a child, one count of supplying ecstasy and one count of supplying cannabis.
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A 19-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with four counts of rape, one involving arranging or facilitating the sexual abuse of a child, one involving distributing an indecent photograph of a child, one relating to the supply of cocaine and another relating to the supply of ecstasy.
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A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
DCI Tom Herbert, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “This remains a complex and sensitive investigation that is based on protecting young girls from exploitation and preventing offending.”
Supt Deepak Kenth said: “Working with our partner agencies, we have held events in Bristol city center and continue to work with hotels, taxi drivers and other businesses to raise awareness of signs of exploitation and the need to report any concerns or issues to the police.”
