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Seven men have been charged with alleged offences against 11 teenage girls as part of an investigation into what police have called “group-based child sexual exploitation” in Bristol.
The men are accused of more than 40 offences between 2022 and this year. The investigation began in November 2023 after concerns were raised about the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl.
The men were appearing at Bristol magistrates court on Wednesday. The girls were in their mid- to late teens at the time of the alleged offences.
Avon and Somerset police said the men were:
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Mohamed Arafe, 19, of Speedwell in Bristol. He has been charged with five counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, one of sexual assault, one of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.
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Sina Omari, 20, of Fishponds in Bristol. He has been charged with two counts of rape, four counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, one of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.
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Wadie Sharaf, 21, of Redland in Bristol. He has been charged with one count of rape, one of attempted rape, three counts of sexual assault and a further count of sexual activity with a child.
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Hussain Bashar, 19, of Southmead in Bristol. He has been charged with one count of rape.
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Mohammed Kurdi, 21, of Henbury in Bristol. He has been charged with two counts of rape, two counts of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one count of supplying ecstasy and a further count of supplying cannabis.
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A 19-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with four counts of rape, one of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child, one of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, one of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and a further count of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.
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A 26-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.
DCI Tom Herbert, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “This remains a complex and sensitive investigation which has the protection of young girls from exploitation and the disruption of offending at its very heart.”
Supt Deepak Kenth said: “Working with our partner agencies, we’ve held events in Bristol city centre and continue to work with hotels, taxi drivers and other businesses to raise awareness about the signs of exploitation and the need to report any concerns or issues to the police.”
