The arrests were made in the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia after an investigation exposed an alleged network of carers who used hours of psychotherapy sessions and electroshocks to convince children their parents had sexually abused them and “alter their memory ahead of the trials”, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
To “brainwash” the children, those arrested allegedly forged child-like drawings with sexual connotations and used electroshock therapy as a “little memory machine” to create false memories of abuse, while the therapists are accused of dressing up as “wicked” children’s story characters.
The network then allegedly sold the children to foster families, while keeping gifts and letters sent to the children by their real parents hidden in a warehouse that was discovered by police.
It’s believed hundreds of thousands of euros were involved in the operation.
“These accusations, if confirmed, are frightening and shocking,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said at the recent G20 meeting in Japan.
Codenamed “Angels and Demons”, investigations into the scheme started in mid 2018 after police received a series of reports of wrongdoing that initially proved false.
The 18 arrested include Andrea Carletti, mayor of Bibbiano, as well as politicians, doctors, social workers and psychologists, local media reported.
Police declined to say how many children were involved, or of what age.
