Lisbon man arrested for blackmailing minors with explicit images

A 28-year-old IT professional has been arrested in Lisbon by the Polícia Judiciária for crimes involving child pornography and the blackmail of at least 12 girls across various regions of Portugal.

The investigation, which began following a complaint in Coimbra, revealed that the suspect used social media to groom minors over a two-year period. After establishing trust through online messaging, he allegedly seduced the victims into sending sexually explicit photos and videos. He then used these materials to blackmail the victims, threatening to distribute the content to their families, schools, and social networks to compel them to send more material.

During searches of the suspect's residence, authorities seized computers and peripherals containing numerous files of child pornography. Although the suspect had no prior criminal record, he has been subjected to judicial interrogation. He was released under conditions that include weekly reporting to police authorities and a prohibition on contacting anyone under the age of 18 or accessing the internet, except for professional purposes.