79 adults and 2 children arrested in Spain over child pornography

Spanish police have detained 81 people, including two children, in a child pornography crackdown across the country on Saturday 17 October. Police said that two minors and two people with mental disabilities were also arrested.

More than 300 police were involved in the country-wide raid across 28 provinces. Police also seized computers and cameras at the suspects' residences.

The investigation was led by "cyberpatrols" who uncovered dozens of people online exchanging the illicit material, at times using peer-to-peer networks. While most of the images shared were of children being abused, some featured images of sadism and bestiality.

"The agents are continuing to analyze the material seized to determine if there had been crimes of producing child pornography, sexual abuse of minors or connection with pedophiles," Spanish police said in a statement. Police also said, "some of the images seized by police are extremely harsh and show sadism and bestiality".

More than 300 police officers and technological investigators took part in the crackdown across 28 provinces. In total, 80 homes were searched, with police confiscating 96 hard drives, 58 computers, 68 flash drives, four tablets, 195 CDs and DVDs, 18 mobile phones, 25 memory cards, among other pieces of electronics, according to the CNN.

The arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation to identify internet users that shared graphic images of child pornography using peer-to-peer networks. Police expect to make more arrests in the probes.

"The agents are continuing to analyse the material seized to determine if there have been crimes of producing child pornography, sexual abuse of minors or connection with paedophiles," police said.

Spanish police have previously detained more than 120 people in 2008 in a single operation against child pornography.