Australian authorities smash local child pornography ring

Australian authorities have arrested five people in connection with an alleged online child pornography ring operating in Sydney.

New South Wales state authorities say the investigation was prompted by a tip-off from Queensland state police about the online activities of a man last June, resulting in the arrests of three men aged 61, 50 and 47 respectively and a woman aged 45 last October and November.

The fifth alleged perpetrator was arrested on Friday at his place of work, NSW Police Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett of the Sex Crime Squad's Child Exploitation Unit told reporters on Monday.

"The five persons were unknown to each other at the time of the investigation ... (but) the Internet obviously creates a situation where like-minded persons are able to meet and engage in this type of activity," Howlett said, adding there are no others waiting to be arrested.

"We're satisfied within this particular group of persons they've all been arrested."

It's believed the group had access to more than 10 potential victims, aged between infancy and early teens, through their own personal lives, however Howlett confirmed none of the victims had been harmed or were aware they were targeted.

"I want to stress that no child was harmed during the course of this investigation. We would never let the investigation to the stage where a child would be harmed," Howlett said. Endit