A French prosecutor will reportedly open an investigation connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, including allegations of sex crimes that targeted girls under 15, the Guardian reports.

The office of Rémy Heitz, the chief Paris prosecutor, reportedly released a statement on Friday announcing that the office would open an inquiry into multiple allegations connected to the alleged sex trafficking ring, including rape of a minor.

“The investigations … will focus on potential crimes committed against French victims on national territory as well as abroad, and on suspects who are French citizens,” the statement said, reportedly adding that the preliminary investigation was a result of tips that came into his office as well as discussions with authorities in he U.S.

Potential charges could include child sex offenses with victims younger than 15 years old, according to the report.

A spokesperson for a child advocacy group told the Guardian that the organization has received 10 witness statements involving possible sex crimes against minors. While not all of the victims are French, the spokesperson said that the offenses “took place on French territory and probably at the hands of French people.”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, one of Epstein’s accusers claimed in court filings that Epstein’s friend Jean Luc-Brunel a French model scout, once flew three 12-year-old French girls to New York as a “birthday gift” for Epstein. The accuser reportedly said that Epstein bragged about having sexual encounters with the girls.

It is unclear from the report if those allegations are in any way connected to the new inquiry.

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