Irish children linked to online group 'obsessed with violence'

Gardaí were involved in a Europol operation as  part of an international reaction to violent online networks linked to attacks in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. 

Gardaí have identified adolescents who have become involved with a notorious online network “obsessed with violence” and engaged in radicalising minors into acts of extremism and terrorism.

The Irish Examiner understands that An Garda Síochána has referred children and adolescents they have identified as being involved with this group to Tusla for support.

The development comes as gardaí took part in an EU operation targeting “nihilistic violent extremist” content online, specifically a network known as “The Com”.

The operation was organised by Europol, the EU police agency, and is part of an international reaction to these networks, which have been linked, particularly a group called “764”, to violent attacks in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Tackling radicalisation

“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,” Europol said in a statement.

It said it had received “hundreds of requests” from member states regarding crimes linked to The Com.

Ireland was one of nine member states that took part in a Europol-led operation, which spanned a number of weeks in June and July.

Security sources in Ireland said the main objective of the operation was to test the “effectiveness and interoperability” between digital intelligence units in participating states and their system of referring web addresses and accounts to platforms for removal.

“The operation was about constraining bad actors who seek to radicalise,” a security source said.

Gardaí made a number of referrals to platforms.

“There are users of The Com and other online ecosystems in Ireland,” the source said. “Some we identify ourselves, others are brought to our attention.” 

Where children and adolescents are identified, garda units actively engage with other State services and have referred children to Tusla in order to support the child and their parents.

Separate garda sections are working together on the issue — the Special Detective Unit, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.

'Violence is often an end in itself'

Europol said 4,340 specific web addresses related to “nihilistic violent extremism” were referred to platforms during the operation, which was led by the agency’s EU internet referral unit.

Europol said The Com, referring to the “Community”, is a loose network of fringe online groups that were “misanthropic” (hatred of humans) and “nihilistic” (life has no meaning).

It said: “These groups lack a unified ideology or centralised structure, and within this ecosystem, violence is often an end in itself."

It said these groups groom victims on social media, messaging apps, and gaming “to engage in self-harm, animal torture, violent acts, and the production of child sexual abuse material”.

Revontulet, a Norwegian online threat body, said in a report last May that recruiters for these networks often seek out adolescents and children on sites associated with “self-harm, eating disorders, gender-related distress, depression, and isolation” and groom them.

It said people progress by producing content showing commitment, including “cut signs” (self-inflicted cuts) and “bloodwalls” (writing on walls with blood).

The UK home affairs committee said in a report last April that Com networks are “rooted in obsessions with violence” and blend elements of “gang and cult-like behaviour” and require a “multi-agency” response.