International operation against nihilistic, violence-glorifying propaganda and the radicalisation of minors

The Hague. In a Europe-wide coordinated operation, Europol, together with law enforcement agencies from nine countries, has sent a clear message against the extremist online network “The Com”. As part of the so-called Referral Action Days (RAD), a total of 4,340 internet addresses (URLs) containing content associated with violence-glorifying and extremist propaganda were reported to online platforms between June and July 2026. The aim of the initiative was to disrupt the network’s digital infrastructure in the long term, curb the spread of extremist content and, at the same time, identify new investigative approaches for national law enforcement agencies.
The operation was coordinated by the EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) at Europol, in collaboration with the Spanish Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO). It complements the ongoing measures of the Europol project COMPASS, which, within the European Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ECTC), coordinates the international exchange of information regarding the network.

Loose online structures with high threat potential

Security authorities use the term “The Com” – short for “The Community” – to describe an international network of loose online groups that lack a traditional organisational structure or a unified ideology. Rather, the unifying element is a nihilistic and misanthropic world view, in which violence is often understood not as a means to an end, but as an end in itself.
Individual groups within this milieu also espouse far-right extremist and so-called accelerationist positions. The aim of these movements is to deliberately promote social instability and to undermine state structures through violence, intimidation and radicalisation.
According to Europol’s findings, the recruitment of new members takes place predominantly via social media, messaging services and gaming platforms. Of particular concern is the focus on minors, who are specifically targeted, manipulated and gradually steered into closed chat groups or forums.

Radicalisation via social media and gaming platforms

Investigators have observed that content associated with ‘The Com’ often appears harmless at first and only develops into extremist or traumatising content as it progresses. This process is facilitated by the recommendation algorithms of social media platforms, which can display such content even to people who are not actively searching for it.
A further problem is that communication within this scene frequently makes use of coded language, codes, emojis and symbolism. As a result, extremist messages often remain difficult for parents or teachers to recognise, whilst conveying clear meanings within the community.
In addition to ideological influence, digital communication also serves to exert targeted control over victims. According to Europol, those affected are put under pressure through, amongst other things, blackmail or so-called (s)extortion, in order to keep them permanently tied to the perpetrator groups.

Violence serves as a status symbol

Within the network, particularly shocking material is highly valued. The more graphic the content published, the higher the standing of individual users or groups within the scene.
The content identified as part of the operation included, amongst other things:

• depictions of self-harm and suicides,
• child sexual abuse material (CSAM),
• animal cruelty,
• videos of violent assaults,
• instructions on murder, improvised explosive devices or grooming,
• calls for arson and other acts of violence.

In some cases, these acts are even streamed live via social media and subsequently archived and circulated within the scene.
Particularly disturbing are so-called ‘blood walls’ and ‘cut signs’. In these instances, victims are forced to carve or write the name of a blackmailer or a group in blood on walls, or to injure themselves in order to carve the perpetrator’s name into their skin. Images and video footage of these acts are subsequently used for self-promotion within the network and are intended to demonstrate the influence of individual groups.
Furthermore, perpetrators deliberately use methods such as doxing and swatting to intimidate victims. Whilst doxing involves the publication or collection of personal information, swatting triggers targeted police operations at the victims’ home addresses through fake emergency calls. This can cause considerable psychological distress and, in some cases, even endanger lives.

Europol collates information and supports platforms

During the Referral Action Days, Europol coordinated cooperation between the participating states, held operational coordination meetings and consolidated the reported web addresses to avoid duplicate reports.
Furthermore, the agency identified content that contravenes the EU Directive on combating terrorism or European regulations on combating racism and xenophobia. This content was reported to the respective platform operators so that it could be reviewed and, where necessary, removed.
Following the conclusion of the operation, Europol will draw up a strategic analysis report designed to provide insights into structures, modus operandi and current developments within the network. The aim is to provide law enforcement agencies and platform operators with even more targeted support in combating such content in future.

A growing threat in the European terrorism landscape

In the latest EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT 2026), nihilistically motivated, violence-oriented extremism is explicitly highlighted for the first time as a distinct security challenge. Europol considers those groups to be particularly problematic which deliberately destabilise social structures and use digital platforms for recruitment, radicalisation and the dissemination of terrorist content.
According to the European Centre for Counter-Terrorism, ‘The Com’ has developed into an international threat over the past two years. It is particularly striking that minors are appearing both as victims and, increasingly, as perpetrators. Consequently, the number of requests for assistance from Member States in investigations relating to this network has risen significantly.

European cooperation is key

This joint action forms part of the European Commission’s ProtectEU security strategy. A central component of this agenda is the protection of people in the digital space, as well as closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and online service providers.
The Referral Action Days are intended to help identify and have terrorist content removed more quickly, to monitor extremist behaviour on gaming platforms and social networks more effectively, and to further expand the Europe-wide exchange of information.
Investigative authorities from Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden took part in the operation. Together, they aim to limit the digital reach of extremist networks and, in particular, to better protect young people from radicalisation and digital exploitation.