Romanian prosecutors have filed new charges against social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, accusing them of trafficking minors and other sex crimes in a case that could add to the legal jeopardy the brothers already face over separate UK charges and their extradition fight in the United States. The move by the Directorate for Investigating Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) marks the latest step in a long-running investigation into the brothers, who built a large online following, particularly among young men, through misogynistic content and displays of wealth.

Andrew, 39, faces charges of trafficking minors, money laundering and sex with a minor, while Tristan, 38, is charged with complicity in trafficking minors and money laundering. Prosecutors allege the pair made more than $1.2m (£888,000) by coercing a girl, said to have been recruited by Tristan when she was 15, into performing sex acts on video chats, and claim she was later sheltered in Luton before being moved to Romania for continued exploitation. Investigators also want four of the brothers' luxury cars, worth £710,000, confiscated over alleged money laundering. The Tates, currently held in a Miami jail while contesting extradition to the UK, deny all allegations, with their lawyer arguing the new indictment follows the collapse of a previous one and pledging to challenge it in court.