Police can't block Facebook rape images

RCMP in Pitt Meadows, B.C., are trying to stop pictures and video of half a dozen young men gang-raping a drugged 16-year-old girl from circulating on the internet, but say they are unable to stop them from spreading.

The girl was allegedly drugged with a date rape drug, possibly GHB, and sexually assaulted by five to seven men in a field outside a rave late Friday and early Saturday morning, according to RCMP Supt. Dave Walsh.

Police allege a 16-year-old boy took the photos and videos and posted them on the social networking site Facebook.com. The youth was arrested and released without charges, but could face child pornography chargesin the future, said police.

The photos were removed from the website, but have since reappeared in new places on the internet, re-victimizing the girl, saidRCMP Insp. Derren Lench.

"This victim is having to relive it on a daily basis, because we get the photos taken off, and then all of a sudden they're redistributed and others are viewing it," he said.

Reposting could lead to charges

Police are warning the public that anyone reposting the images or video could themselves face child pornography charges,

"I don't think those that have the actual photographs understand that in fact it's an offence to possess those, and it's also an offence to distribute them, because it is child pornography," said Lench.

They are asking the public to come forward with any information they may have about the incident.

Police didn't release an address where the party took place, but they said it had occurred on private property and was attended by a large number of youth in the community, 20 kilometres east of Vancouver.