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Ten men were arrested after allegedly arranging sexual encounters in Fairfax County with people they believed were children, police said.

The arrests followed “Spring Bloom,” a multiday undercover operation conducted by the Fairfax County Police Department’s Child Exploitation Unit in partnership with D.C. police and the FBI.

Detectives posed as children on several online platforms. According to police, the suspects arranged in-person meetings for sexual activity and encountered officers instead.

Maj. Kevin White, assistant commander of the Violent Crime Suppression Unit, said detectives clearly identified themselves as underage during the conversations.

“Our detectives … often do clearly state that they’re underage. There’s no misunderstanding there,” White said at a Monday news conference announcing the arrests.

The accused men range in age from 21 to 64 and come from a variety of professions and backgrounds. Together, they face 22 charges, including 19 felony counts involving alleged sexual offenses against minors.

Police said none of the men had previously faced similar charges. All 10 are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

White said authorities publicize undercover operations partly to warn families about the risks children may encounter online. He said potential dangers exist across social media, gaming services and other digital platforms used by children.

Active parental involvement remains the most effective safeguard, White said, urging parents to stay aware of what their children do online and whom they communicate with.