RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – A group of paratroopers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division have been moved from their regular barracks while military officials investigate allegations they appeared on a gay porn Web site, a spokesperson said.

“We are concerned about the privacy and rights of each trooper involved,” division spokesperson Maj. Amy Hannah said in a statement. “They have been moved to another barracks location.”

Hannah said the investigation is still at an early stage and “is intended to determine facts from rumors,” adding that the decision to move the soldiers was not prompted by concerns for their safety.

The 82nd Airborne acknowledged the investigation, but declined to say how many soldiers had appeared on the military-themed porn site. A defense official speaking on condition of anonymity said that up to seven soldiers were involved.

The division has said the paratroopers have been allowed to seek legal assistance, but no charges have been filed.

The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuality states that “homosexual orientation alone is not a bar to service, but homosexual conduct is incompatible with military service.”

According to Internet registry records, the owner of the Web site’s domain name has a street address in Fayetteville, the city that adjoins the 82nd’s home base at Fort Bragg. There are no direct references to the 82nd Airborne or Fort Bragg on the Web site.

After appearing to have been temporarily shut down, the Web site was active again last week, but without any content appearing on the publicly accessible pages. A disclaimer, asking users to agree that they are not agents of the U.S. government, Department of Defense, members of law enforcement or reporters, continued to appear on the home page.

E-mails to the registered owner were returned as undeliverable, and the phone number listed on the domain-name registration is no longer in service.

The 15,000 paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne are among the Army’s most elite soldiers, all having volunteered to serve in a unit that trains to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.