The Metropolitan Police revealed today that it was investigating whether a letter was sent to the Duchess of Sussex about allegations against her father eight years ago.
asserted
letter → reveal → father
The force said it was making internal inquiries about officers from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command being involved in the passing on of a letter.
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officers → say → letter
Meghan's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr claimed he found child sex abuse images belonging to her father Thomas Markle Sr at his former home in the Philippines.
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he → claim → Philippines
The Duchess said today that she is 'deeply distressed' by the accusations – but Thomas Sr has denied possessing child sex images, calling the claims 'sick lies'.
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Sr → say → claims
A Met spokesman said: 'We are aware of media reports that officers from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command were involved in the passing on of a letter in 2018.
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officers → say → 2018
We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this.'
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We → undertake → this
The Daily Mail understands that the Met has not and is not investigating Thomas Sr.
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Met → understand → Sr
Earlier, sources claimed authorities in the UK had previously told Meghan that allegations made about her father in a 2018 letter sent to Scotland Yard and subsequently shared with her by police were being investigated.
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allegations → claim → police
It is understood the letter was sent to Meghan in summer 2018, after her wedding to Prince Harry that May.
uncertain
letter → understand → Harry
Meghan said in a statement this morning: 'I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.
'
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who → say → children
In 2018, a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection.
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letter → send → Police
That letter was subsequently shared with me.
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letter → share → me
They have been estranged since 2018
Meghan and her father Thomas Sr have been estranged since 2018, the year she married Harry
The Duchess of Sussex on a visit to the Community Recording Studio in Nottingham last week
'
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she → marry → Nottingham
It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated.
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these → make → assurances
I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.
'
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him → hope → them
I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.
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authorities → trust → families
Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.'
uncertain
priority → uncover → children
Thomas Sr is now under investigation in the Philippines by a child sex abuse task force - with the FBI poised to join the probe - after he was accused of possessing child sex abuse images.
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he → poise → images
The 82-year-old is facing 'sickening' allegations that he possessed a horde of child sex abuse material which included videos of girls under 12 involved in sex acts.
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which → face → acts
Thomas Jr made allegations overnight that he had found a large stash of child sex abuse images on computers and phones in four large storage boxes 'left behind' by Thomas Sr when he moved back to the US from the Philippines earlier this year.
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he → make → Philippines
The material is said to have been discovered in his home in the Philippines.
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material → say → Philippines
Thomas Sr said today that the accusations were 'sick lies' made up by his son for money.
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accusations → say → money
A specialist unit is investigating the claims in the Philippines, while the FBI has also been made aware of the allegations and is thought to be considering its own probe.
uncertain
FBI → investigate → probe
It was confirmed today that the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines is investigating reports involving 'an American national in his 80s' who is accused of leaving child abuse videos and photos in his home in Cebu province.
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who → confirm → province
DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty told the Philippine News Agency that the department's Anti-Trafficking and OSAEC (online sexual abuse and exploitation of children) task force 'is currently investigating the matter'.
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force → tell → matter
The FBI in the US is also understood to be considering launching its own investigation after his son also reported his findings to the agency.
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son → understand → agency
It is believed that the FBI has reached out to authorities in the Philippines and is poised to launch a probe in collaboration with them.
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FBI → believe → them
Thomas Jr allegedly found videos of girls no older than ten or 11 years old engaged in sexual acts, as well as a 15-minute video of naked girls on his father's old mobile phone.
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Jr → find → phone
He also claimed to have found three photos of naked girls.
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He → claim → girls
Thomas Jr reported his discovery to the FBI Hotline, the US National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children and police in Pennsylvania where his father was living, according to The Sun.
uncertain
father → report → Sun
A source close to the Royal Family told the Daily Mail this afternoon: 'This is a matter for the Sussex household.'
O'Bryan Grandison, Senior Lecturer in Policing at Birmingham City University with more than 30 years experience as a police officer, told the Daily Mail today that now an investigation is underway, officers will be looking to interview witnesses and identify possible victims, including through techniques such as reverse image search and looking to match photos and videos to specific properties.
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officers → tell → properties
Meghan's brother Thomas Markle Jr (above) claimed to have found the child abuse material
He said it is perfectly possible for the US and FBI to investigate the allegations concerning material stored abroad as long as the Philippines has signed up to UN protocols on child exploitation.
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Philippines → claim → exploitation
'In principle after the Filipino police have made contact [with the US], a dual investigation will be launched, to identify victims, witnesses and locations with a view to establishing what offences have been committed and where,' Mr Grandison said.
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Grandison → make → view
'They will also be discussing when to conduct an arrest.
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They → discuss → arrest
This is crucial in order to secure and preserve evidence and to get an early account from Thomas Markle about how he came into the possession of those photos.'
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he → secure → photos
He added discussion over who leads the investigation will involve factors including which authority has a more complete case and what a potential sentence in each country would look like.
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sentence → add → country
'If a country has a more complete case or prima facie evidence for a case, which can be brought to trial expeditiously using specimen charges, then that will be the answer here, especially if a remand in custody can be secured, with a view to prevent further offences from being coming or the destruction of evidence, thereby enabling other countries to continue their investigation,' he added.
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he → have → investigation
On the prospect of any UK authorities becoming involved, Mr Grandison said the letter to Meghan from the Met holds little bearing.
But he added: 'Should a UK charge result, the letter and any previous involvement will be part of the case file as 'disclosable' material.'
Thomas Sr said allegations made by his son that he downloaded a huge stash of child sex abuse images onto computers and cellphones 'is the worst thing anyone could accuse me of'.
He spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail from a rehab centre in Florida, where he is learning to walk with a prosthetic limb after his left leg was amputated below the knee last December following a massive blood clot.
He said: 'I'm shocked, I'm hurt and I'm very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.
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son → become → me
I could never do what I'm being accused of.
uncertain
I → do → what
It's the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.
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anyone → accuse → me
…and 69 more, not listed.
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