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In Afghanistan they took notice: [KhaamaPress] Seven Afghan men have been charged in United Kingdom with dozens of offences, including rape, in connection with an alleged group child sexual abuse case, police in Norfolk said on Friday.
The Norfolk Police said the alleged offences took place between August 2023 and May 2025 and involved two victims who were in their early to mid-teens at the time of the incidents, according to official statements.
Police said officers carried out coordinated raids on six homes in Norwich and one property in Dumbarton, leading to the arrest of all seven suspects.
Authorities stressed that none of the accused were living in asylum seeker hotels in Norfolk and none of the alleged crimes occurred in such accommodation facilities, rejecting speculation about the case location.
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Miller described the investigation as “deeply disturbing” and said protecting children from exploitation remains a top priority for law enforcement agencies.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 21, face multiple charges including rape, conspiracy to rape, human trafficking facilitation and perverting the course of justice, according to police charge sheets.
All seven men are scheduled to appear before Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where initial proceedings in the case are expected to begin.
Seven men have been charged with a total of 40 offences as part of an investigation into group-based child exploitation.
Norfolk Police said the men - six aged 20 and one aged 21 - were all Afghan nationals and were arrested on Wednesday following raids on six addresses in Norwich and one in Dumbarton.
The charges relate to two girls, aged in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged offences, and are said to have happened between August 2023 and May 2025 in Norwich.
All seven men spoke via interpreters to confirm their names, ages and addresses when they appeared before magistrates in Norwich earlier.
Police said the men's immigration status was "refugee".
Five of the defendants entered the country on small boats, according to the police.
One came to the UK concealed on a lorry and another arrived via a port.
None of them had lived at asylum hotels in Norfolk, nor did the alleged offences happen at a hotel housing asylum seekers, the force added.
Norfolk Police said an eighth man, aged 19, had been arrested in Ireland on Friday as part of the investigation.
The following men were remanded in custody and will appear at Norwich Crown Court on June 19:
- Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 20, of Pottergate, Norwich, has been charged with nine counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of facilitating human trafficking and one count of perverting the course of justice.
- Jamil Khalili, 20, of High Street, Dumbarton, faces seven charges of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of facilitating human trafficking.
- Fazal Auryakhel, 20, of Eleanor Road, Norwich, is accused of one count of rape.
- Qais Kaker, 20, of Black Horse Opening, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of facilitating human trafficking.
- Mohammed Farooq Shinwary, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, faces two counts of rape.
- Ali Ahamad, 21, of Pelham Road, Norwich, is charged with one count of rape and three counts of facilitating human trafficking.
- Sayed Wahid Davodzai, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape and one count of conspiracy to rape.
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