In a joint operation between the Hungarian and German law enforcement agencies, a Hungarian man has been arrested in Berlin in connection with the so-called Motherless case, where manipulated images of Hungarian women in violent scenarios were uploaded to a pornographic website. The arrest was announced by Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation (KR NNI) on Monday.

The investigation was launched after authorities became aware of a user, under the alias ‘archie147’, posting digitally altered images depicting women with slashed throats or decapitated heads. The account was discovered following a forum post on 17 August 2024, which identified several Hungarian women among the uploaded images.

The online content triggered mass outrage on social media, particularly due to accompanying comments detailing how the women depicted could be killed during sexual encounters. The suspect’s profile bio even suggested that he personally knew many of the women featured in the images. The account was deleted on the same day it was exposed.

Following an extensive data collection process and victim testimonies, investigators traced the suspect to Berlin. In cooperation with German authorities, Hungarian cybercrime officers arrested the 39-year-old man on 6 February.

During a search of his residence, investigators seized multiple electronic devices, including computers, mobile phones, CDs, memory cards, digital cameras, an e-book reader, photographs, and notebooks. Additional devices, such as hard drives and a mobile phone, were found in a hidden compartment behind the kitchen sink, uncovered with the help of a specially trained search dog.

The suspect has been formally questioned, and parallel investigations are now underway in both Hungary and Germany. Authorities continue to work together to identify additional victims and carry out further necessary legal actions.

In response to the case, Hungarian lawmakers have amended the country’s Criminal Code, introducing the concept of ‘internet aggression’ as a specific legal offence. This legislative change reflects the growing recognition of the dangers posed by digital crimes and aims to strengthen protections against online abuse.

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