A 20-year-old man faces 19 charges after a child luring and sexual assault investigation in the Fredericton and Oromocto areas.
New Brunswick RCMP say the suspect has been targeting young girls since January through the “Add Friends Nearby” feature on Snapchat.
Three teenage girls reported meeting the man between April and June before allegedly being sexually assaulted by him.
Mounties are now asking anyone who communicated or met with the suspect to come forward to aid them with the investigation.
“If you were contacted by this man, if you exchanged photos with this person, especially if you met up with him – we want to talk to you to help our investigation,” said Cpl. Hans Ouellette of the New Brunswick RCMP in a statement.
“You are not in trouble. We want to support you.”
Police believe the man used two different accounts on the social media platform, with the user names “M_vixin20,” and “Abo_issauk.” The individual may have driven a mid or dark grey 2013 four-door Ford Focus, with license plate number JFU 475.
“We need to talk to anyone who had interactions with this person to further our investigation,” said Ouellette.
“We need you to know that you can come to police. You will be heard, and you will be treated with respect and compassion.”
Mounties identified a person of interest on June 12 before learning the man had fled to Ontario. He was arrested by the Toronto Police Service on a Canada-wide warrant and transferred to New Brunswick RCMP custody on June 20.
Investigators say 20-year-old Firas Alobaid appeared in Fredericton Provincial Court and was charged with the following offences:
- Six counts of sexual assault
- Five counts of sexual interference of a minor
- Three counts of sexual exploitation
- Three counts of child luring by telecommunication
- Possession of a firearm for a dangerous purpose
- Uttering threats
Alobaid was remanded into police custody until his bail hearing on June 23.
Anyone who interacted with Alobaid through social media, or has information that may help the investigation, is asked to contact Oromocto RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Man charged with 19 offences, including child luring, sexual assault; police seeking other possible victims , https://t.co/eT8jQXwtlB #Fredericton #Oromocto
— RCMP New Brunswick (@RCMPNB) June 22, 2022
