European courts process multiple cases involving crimes against minors and arson plots

A series of legal proceedings involving serious crimes against minors are unfolding across Europe.

In Finland, a trial has commenced for a man accused of sexually abusing 361 children, aged 9 to 15, via social media platforms including Snapchat between 2019 and 2022. Investigators discovered thousands of images and videos on his mobile device. The proceedings at the Pirkanmaa District Court are expected to continue through the end of the year.

In Slovakia, the Regional Court in Prešov has ordered the detention of a foreign national accused of preparing an arson attack on a manufacturing plant in eastern Slovakia. This decision overturns a previous ruling by the District Court of Prešov that had released the suspect.

In Portugal, a 70-year-old man was detained in Lisbon following allegations of sexual abuse against four children, aged 4 to 16, in the Belas area. The investigation suggests the crimes occurred between 2022 and 2025 within a neighborhood context.

Other regional court cases include a former childcare worker in France facing trial for sexual assaults on young children, and a man in Metz sentenced to 18 months in prison for indecent exposure in front of minors.