Columnist Hasan Suroor, a British journalist of Indian origin, has been arrested following a video sting operation by an anti-paedophile group. A member of the group, called Unknown TV, told HuffPost India that he has been arrested under sections 14 and 15 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2003. We have not independently confirmed this with the Metropolitan police.
"He has been charged and remanded till trial," said Charlie Gaines, a member of the anti-paedophile group Unknown TV, which posted the video of the sting and his arrest online yesterday.
In the video, posted online yesterday, 65-year-old Suroor is seen as admitting to have travelled from Chelsea to Deptford Bridge DLR to meet a 14-year-old girl. While Suroor says he would not have had sex with her, the vigilante group confronts him with evidence that he had conversations indicating clear plans for a sexual encounter.
To be clear, Suroor did not have sex with a minor. He had sexual conversations with someone who he thought was a minor and was purportedly travelling to meet that person.
The video was posted on Facebook yesterday by a paedophile-hunting vigilante group called Unknown TV. Such groups have been in operation in the US and UK. Members pose as minors on dating and social networking sites and watch for adult men who solicit sex with minors. When men travel for such encounters, they are confronted by members posing as police and the exchange is taped and subsequently posted online.
Their methods have been controversial, with police asking such groups to refrain from such activities. Such stings don't necessarily end in a conviction or even criminal charges, although they have. At least one person has taken his life following such a sting.
At the end of the video, Suroor is seen being handed over to the police.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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"He has been charged and remanded till trial," said Charlie Gaines, a member of the anti-paedophile group Unknown TV, which posted the video of the sting and his arrest online yesterday.
In the video, posted online yesterday, 65-year-old Suroor is seen as admitting to have travelled from Chelsea to Deptford Bridge DLR to meet a 14-year-old girl. While Suroor says he would not have had sex with her, the vigilante group confronts him with evidence that he had conversations indicating clear plans for a sexual encounter.
To be clear, Suroor did not have sex with a minor. He had sexual conversations with someone who he thought was a minor and was purportedly travelling to meet that person.
The video was posted on Facebook yesterday by a paedophile-hunting vigilante group called Unknown TV. Such groups have been in operation in the US and UK. Members pose as minors on dating and social networking sites and watch for adult men who solicit sex with minors. When men travel for such encounters, they are confronted by members posing as police and the exchange is taped and subsequently posted online.
Their methods have been controversial, with police asking such groups to refrain from such activities. Such stings don't necessarily end in a conviction or even criminal charges, although they have. At least one person has taken his life following such a sting.
At the end of the video, Suroor is seen being handed over to the police.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Contact HuffPost India