Two teen girls charged with pimping

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OTTAWA, June 12 (UPI) -- An unprecedented Canadian investigation was under way Tuesday in Ottawa after police charged two 15-year-old girls with pimping other girls into prostitution.

A third suspect, a 17-year-old girl was also being sought for alleged involvement in the scheme in which girls 13 to 17 were lured and then bullied into working as prostitutes, the Ottawa Sun reported.

None of the girls can be named under Canadian youth protection law.

Police Staff Sgt. John McGetrick told the Sun the investigation was "absolutely shocking" and had no precedent in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police crime database.

Neighbors in the housing complex told the newspaper the suspects maintained a Web site advertising their service, but police wouldn't confirm that.

Detectives said the suspects hosted house parties in May and earlier this month and invited teen girls. Once there, the victims were threatened with violence if they didn't go out on "dates" with men.

Police also said there were likely more teenage victims who were forced to work and who should come forward.

The accused face charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, forcible confinement, abduction, robbery, procuring, assault and uttering threats.