Europol-led action against nihilistic violent extremist network "The Com"

Over several weeks in June and July 2026, Europol supported an action targeting nihilistic violent extremist content online. Investigators from nine countries participated in these ‘Referral Action Days’, with the common goal to disrupt The Com online ecosystem and limit propaganda dissemination, as well as to find new investigative leads. The action also aimed at enhancing platforms’ response to and awareness of terrorist content online produced and disseminated by The Com groups. An estimated 4 340 URLs related to nihilistic violent extremism were referred during the initiative organised by Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit - EU IRU and the Spanish Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO). This successful action complements the efforts undertaken within Project COMPASS, coordinated by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, which unites law enforcement authorities from EU Member States and third-party partners to address The Com. What is ‘The Com’? The Com, referring to the “Community,” is a loose network of fringe online groups that adhere to a misanthropic and nihilistic worldview. These groups lack a unified ideology or centralised structure, and within this ecosystem, violence is often an end in itself. Some factions have adopted violent right-wing extremist beliefs and accelerationist views, aiming to hasten societal collapse through violent attacks and the corruption of youth. Groups affiliated with The Com recruit members and groom victims on social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms to engage in self-harm, animal torture, violent attacks, and the production of child sexual abuse material. They distribute propaganda on accessible platforms to attract young individuals, funnelling potential members and victims into private forums and chat rooms where radicalisation and victimisation occur. Victims are typically coerced into remaining under the perpetrators’ influence through (s)extortion. While the use of widely accessible social media platforms and online games to recruit and to target victims is not new, the ease of access to The Com-related content is alarming. Social media algorithms expose young individuals to extremist material - whether they seek it or not - with content that may initially appear harmless but quickly escalates into extreme violence and traumatising material. The Com’s content is laced with coded language and emojis that adults may struggle to decipher, conveying sinister messages that encourage self-harm and the sexual exploitation of minors. Horrific online content disseminated by The Com Within The Com, content is used to promote an online alias or a group’s notoriety. The more extreme and harmful the content a user or group can produce or extort, the higher their status within the online community. These acts are often livestreamed on social media platforms, where online bystanders cheer them on, and later saved and disseminated. The content referenced in this operation includes violent videos and images depicting self-harm, suicide, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), animal cruelty, and violent attacks. Within The Com, so-called blood walls and cut-signs are promoted and sometimes required as entry criteria for certain groups. Blood walls are inscriptions or paintings made with blood that display the extorter’s online alias and group affiliation. The Com frequently employs satanic expressions and symbols to make its content appear more sinister and frightening. Some groups also incorporate violent right-wing symbols and jargon, either to convey their ideological stance or to shock audiences. Cut-signs involve individuals carving the extorter's name into their own bodies, with images or videos of these acts later shared to enhance the extorter's and their group’s status within The Com. Other types of content include videos of violent street attacks, a practice known as "manhunt," or arson. Additionally, The Com produces manuals or guides covering topics such as grooming, murder, improvised explosives, or ideological viewpoints. These manuals are created by groups to instruct members on methods for committing violent attacks, grooming and (s)extorting vulnerable minors, or conducting doxing and swatting. Doxing involves uncovering and exposing an individual’s personal data to extort or harass them. Personal information, such as a home address, may be used to carry out "swatting". This is a tactic where the extorter contacts law enforcement with a hoax emergency call or threat, falsely claiming a violent crime is about to occur at the victim’s address. This prompts an emergency response, often endangering the individual and their family. The procedure is used to intimidate victims and may cause physical or psychological harm. Europol’s support Europol provided comprehensive support for the Referral Action Days (RAD) by coordinating operational meetings with the participating countries, delivering presentations on the phenomenon, and collecting and sending a consolidated list of contributed URLs for deconfliction. Additionally, Europol collected and referred content that violates the EU Directive on Combating Terrorism and the EU Framework Decision on Combating Racism and Xenophobia, while supporting third parties in their referrals. Europol produces a strategic analysis report of the action to enhance understanding of the phenomenon and improve response efforts. ‘The Com’ in the context of the EU terrorism landscape In the recently published European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (EU TE-SAT 2026), nihilistic violent extremism is identified as a destabilising ideology, with “some subgroups and individuals within this ecosystem explicitly seeking to undermine societal structures.” The focus of the Referral Action Days stems from law enforcement authorities’ need to address nihilistic violent extremist online venues, which are misused to groom, radicalise, and disseminate terrorist content online. Over the past two years, Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre has observed The Com network evolving into a global threat, particularly concerning minors as both victims and perpetrators. The ECTC has received hundreds of requests from Member States and third parties regarding crimes committed within The Com milieu. Requests related to nihilistic violent extremism have also been reflected in investigations submitted to the ECTC for support. A unified response to terrorism and violent extremism The joint action ties into the European Commission’s counterterrorism agenda ProtectEU. One of its central pillars is protecting people online, and the Referral Action Days specifically contributed to Europol’s action points on facilitating EU-level cooperation with online service providers. This includes improving the handling of illegal content related to terrorism and other harmful material, as well as monitoring extremist misuse of gaming platforms and providing regular assessments. Participating countries Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden