The police and the public prosecutor’s office have issued a warning about a dangerous internet phenomenon that has now surfaced in Luxembourg.
The alert concerns a relatively new global trend involving extreme sadistic violence. Perpetrators operate online and attempt to blackmail their victims into committing violent acts, which may range from arson and animal cruelty to self-harm or even suicide. In many cases, the acts are filmed and shared on the internet. According to Luxembourg City Prosecutor David Lentz, the objective is to generate chaos and dehumanise the victim. Those behind the crimes often make use of symbols associated with the far-right scene or Satanism.
Luxembourgish authorities have received the first reports of this phenomenon – referred to as "extremist violent nihilism" – within the Grand Duchy. With the summer holidays approaching, officials decided to use the opportunity to alert parents in particular. According to the authorities, the phenomenon has spread rapidly in recent years. However, both the police and the public prosecutor’s office currently lack the necessary legal tools to effectively counter it, as Kristin Schmit of the Luxembourg Police explained during a press conference on Wednesday morning. She also raised the question of how many cases may have gone unreported.
Prosecutor David Lentz stressed that the internet must not remain a lawless space. He noted that countries facing a high number of such cases are now considering introducing age limits for social media platforms. At the same time, Lentz added that this is a political matter on which the public prosecutor’s office does not wish to take a position. The office has, however, submitted a draft bill to the Ministry of Justice aimed at enabling more effective action against such blackmail cases.
The authorities observed that while parents in the past used to warn their children about strangers in white vans and advise them not to accept sweets, today they increasingly need to be aware of their children’s online activities. They also urged parents to watch for potential warning signs that might indicate a child has become entangled in such a network. These signs include increased social withdrawal, changes in personality, insomnia, and the glorification of violence, among others.
The perpetrators are said to focus primarily on major platforms and gaming sites frequented by young people, specifically targeting children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 17. Particularly vulnerable are those with mental health issues, eating disorders, or suicidal tendencies. Through psychological manipulation, the perpetrators first build a relationship of trust with the victim, making them feel valued – a sense they may lack in other areas of their lives. Over time, they gradually incite the victim to carry out increasingly gruesome acts of violence, both against others and against themselves. In some networks, known as "Com" groups, victims accumulate points based on the "tasks" they complete, which can range from physical assault to suicide.
The police and the public prosecutor’s office have by now received specialised training, including from Europol. The authorities are also actively coordinating with associations active in child and youth protection, as well as with youth psychiatry services. Internally, they are considering whether to examine individual cases from a broader perspective, taking into account a larger contextual framework.
The authorities’ clear appeal to the public is to flag any suspicious incidents and to file complaints.
