Skip to content

Police: Disturbing child abuse video circulating in Sudbury originated in Belgium

Video showing a toddler being assaulted is from September; child is safe
child abuse shutterstock_108525353 2016
(Supplied)

A disturbing video of a toddler being assaulted, which is currently making the rounds on social media in Greater Sudbury, is not local, Greater Sudbury Police said in a news release Friday.

“The video showed a man wearing an orange T-shirt assaulting a toddler,” the release said. “Our (Internet Child Exploitation) Unit has confirmed with international partners that the man has been identified and the child is safe. They were located in Belgium in September of 2019.” 

Police were notified the video was making its way around Greater Sudbury that had been viewed on Facebook and Facebook Messenger. 

“Individuals sharing the video were attempting to crowd source the identity of the man in the video,” the release said. “Facebook Trust and Security Department has confirmed that the video has been removed from Facebook.

“We would like to thank everyone for their concern and assistance with this matter.” 

The ICE unit is part of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, which has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General.