BRUSSELS – A quarter of a century after the Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States, jihadist groups still pose a significant threat to security in Europe. However, a new form of extremism is emerging, primarily fueled by young individuals online, raising concerns among authorities.
The precise scope of the network associated with what is termed nihilistic violent extremism remains uncertain. Nonetheless, police investigations across nine European countries uncovered approximately 4,340 URLs linked to “The COM,” an online community, during a disruption campaign conducted in June and July.
“It’s violence for the sake of violence,” remarked European Union Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Bartjan Wegter in an interview with The Associated Press, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington in 2001.
In total, 45 terrorist attacks were reported in 10 out of the 27 EU countries last year. Although none resulted in major mass casualties, six individuals lost their lives. The EU police agency Europol reported that around half of these incidents were thwarted or failed, with 486 people suspected of terror links arrested across 21 member states.
Of these attacks, 24 were attributed to jihadist groups, which accounted for over 70% of the arrests. Notably, about one-third of those apprehended were under 18, predominantly boys.
Europol does not maintain statistics specifically for nihilistic violent extremism due to varying definitions and the potential overlap with ordinary criminal behavior. For instance, in Finland in 2025, a 16-year-old boy stabbed three female schoolmates, allegedly sharing a “manifesto” in WhatsApp groups, recording the incident on Snapchat, and requesting someone to save the video after his release.
In this “manifesto,” he expressed a desire to engage in something “significant” and “exciting,” with no political motives attributed to his actions, as noted in an EU document addressing the emerging threat of nihilistic extremist violence.
Violence as a Form of Entertainment
Wegter emphasized the fascination with violence among these individuals, stating, “It’s violence as a means of asserting oneself, as a means of gaining status in those online communities.” This phenomenon lacks a direct ideological connection.
In Italy last year, a 15-year-old boy plotted a murder to achieve notoriety online, as reported by authorities. He possessed images and videos depicting assaults, murders, school shootings, and child pornography on his smartphone.
Wegter noted that these incidents, which have been increasing over the past two to three years, are not isolated acts. They are often orchestrated by online networks predominantly composed of young people, which frequently involve young boys.
These online interactions can lead to real-world violence. For instance, there have been stabbings, including cases where young individuals attacked elderly people without any discernible motive.
Conspiring Online to Commit Real-World Crimes
One group that has garnered attention from authorities is 764, established by American high school dropout Bradley Cadenhead, who is currently serving an 80-year prison sentence for child pornography and sex offenses. Despite his incarceration, the group continues to operate.
In Germany last year, a 20-year-old man, suspected of being a prominent member of 764, faced 123 charges related to acts of “unimaginable brutality and inhumanity,” including murder, rape, and the sexual abuse of children, as highlighted in an EU document.
Unlike the threats of 25 years ago, primarily from extremists entering the United States from Saudi Arabia to train as pilots, the current terror threat facing Europe is predominantly organized in the digital realm.
Wegter stated, “The online environment, for all the good things it brings, is still too permissive.” He described it as “a petri dish for the connection between different threats.”
Privacy vs. Security in the Age of AI
Privacy advocates argue that individuals possess a fundamental right to communicate without unwarranted intrusion. They criticize authorities and some corporations for undermining protections through spyware and other means.
However, Wegter emphasized the necessity for law enforcement to be equipped with the tools and instruments needed to address current threats. He pointed out that 85% of investigations occur in the digital environment, necessitating a shift in approach.
This adaptation involves increased dialogue with authorities and organizations in other countries, particularly those that serve as bases for such groups. “What happens outside our borders impacts our security,” he remarked, particularly in terms of online amplification.
Europol noted that criminals are increasingly exploiting images and audio to create and disseminate propaganda, utilizing deepfakes, memes, and GIFs. AI-powered bots are also employed to enhance recruitment efforts and promote extremist ideologies, while AI-driven applications are used for research in preparing attacks.
Wegter concluded, “The kind of violent content, violence-inciting content, propaganda, manuals, tactics — everything that is available is very much amplified by AI.”
