At least 10 children were sexually abused in Alabama bunker, cops say. 7 arrested
Seven people — including some of the children's parents and relatives — have been arrested on different charges, including sexual abuse, rape and child trafficking, Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said during a July 23 news conference, broadcast by WVTM.
'I know God's forgiveness is boundless, but if there is a limit, we reached it,' Bibb told WSAZ.
A monthslong investigation, beginning in February, led to the arrest of three men, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office said in a July 19 Facebook post, McClatchy News reported.
Four others were arrested after, the sheriff said during the news conference. McClatchy News is not identifying the suspects to protect the identity of the children.
The investigation began after deputies were notified of potential child sexual abuse at a bunker in Brent, about a 50-mile drive southwest from Birmingham, the sheriff's office said.
Some of the children — ranging from 3 to 15 years old — were abused by multiple people 'on a nightly basis,' Wade said, adding that each child is now in the custody of the Department of Human Resources.
'They are safe and being cared for and speaking with counselors,' Wade said.
More arrests and victims are expected as the investigation continues, Wade said.
Human trafficking in the US
Human trafficking is a 'crime of exploitation,' according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Traffickers profit off their victims by forcing them to engage in sex acts or do labor.
'With an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time, human traffickers prey on people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, exploiting them for their own profit,' officials said.
Industries where trafficking victims are forced to work include hospitality, restaurants, agriculture, construction, landscaping, factories, home care, salons, massage parlors, retail, janitorial and many more, officials said.
In the U.S., children in welfare or juvenile justice systems, such as foster care, are the most vulnerable to human trafficking, officials said.
Children and teens experiencing homelessness, people seeking asylum, people who struggle with substance abuse, migrant laborers, people who identify as part of the LGBTQ community and victims of domestic violence are also more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking
'Traffickers can be strangers, acquaintances, or even family members, and they prey on the vulnerable and on those seeking opportunities to build for themselves a brighter future,' officials said.
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