A man has been arrested in Santa Cruz de La Palma for allegedly grooming children online and using video games to request sexually explicit images since at least 2017.
According to the National Police, he may have victims in several of the Canary Islands.
The investigation began after the mother of an 11-year-old boy reported suspicious messages she found on her son's mobile phone. Officers say the suspect used jokes and friendly conversations to gain the child’s trust before requesting explicit images and videos.
Further enquiries by the Family and Women's Protection Unit (UFAM) in Las Palmas uncovered a second victim, another child who was a friend of the boy. He had also reportedly been contacted by the suspect with similar requests.
Police say the man lives on the island of La Palma, has a criminal record for similar offences, and used multiple platforms to approach minors. These included social media, messaging apps like WhatsApp, and alarmingly, online video games and consoles such as PlayStation. One of the suspect’s consoles was seized during a search of his home.
This form of abuse, known as child grooming, involves an adult building an emotional connection with a child online in order to exploit them. It often begins with seemingly harmless interactions, including games, flattery, or digital gifts, before escalating to requests for sexual content.
With court approval, officers carried out a search of the suspect’s home and confiscated various electronic devices. These are now being analysed to determine whether more victims may be involved and to establish the full extent of his activities.
