European and American law enforcement agencies have targeted an “online cult community” which is “dedicated to extremely violent child abuse.”
Today US Homeland Security Investigations, supported by Europol and French Police, arrested members of an “online community dedicated to grooming, sexual abuse, acts of cruelty, torture and murders.”
“Law enforcement authorities target members of prolific online communities dedicated to the sexual abuse of children and manipulation of vulnerable minors into committing violent crimes,” Europol said in a statement.
“This coercion into committing violent crime spans multiple areas, including acts of cruelty against people and animals, murder and self-harm.”
A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF “EXTREMISTS” WHO “COLLUDE TO GROOM AND ABUSE CHILDREN”
According to Europol, these “extremist” communities are part of a larger online network called “The Com”, short for “The Community”, which operates on social media.
“Through this network, extremists around the world collude to groom and abuse children,” the Europol statement continued.
“These groups operate virtually in easily accessible online spaces such as social media platforms, mobile applications and online gaming platforms. International cooperation via Europol has intensified in the past year, leading to the identification of dangerous individuals and the safeguarding of victims, mostly vulnerable minors.”
“AN ONLINE GROUP THAT PROMOTED NEO-NAZISM, NIHILISM AND PAEDOPHILIA AS ITS CORE PRINCIPLES”
On the 30th of January this year, United States Homeland Security Investigations arrested two individuals for participating in a “neo-Nazi child exploitation ring” that “groomed and then coerced minors into produce child sexual abuse material and images of self-harm.”
“The group allegedly abused at least 16 minors around the world,” Europol said.
“According to the investigation, the two men were members of “CVLT” (pronounced “cult”), an online group that promoted neo-Nazism, nihilism, and paedophilia as its core principles.”
“SERVING A 50-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN THE US FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE CRIMES”
Europol supported investigations into two individuals—a 23-year-old and a 41-year-old man from the US—in coordination with the French National Police (Police Nationale), the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs.
These arrests follow earlier detentions of two other prominent members of the same community, both men in their twenties. One of these suspects has been held in French custody since 2022 on multiple child exploitation and related charges, while the other is serving a 50-year prison sentence in the US for child sex abuse crimes committed in 2020 and 2021.
Of the four arrested offenders, three are believed to have held leadership roles within the violent online abuse community, acting as administrators of CVLT servers and managing group membership.
VICTIMS ENCOURAGED TO DRINK THEIR OWN URINE, CALL THEMSELVES RACIAL INSULTS, AND USE RAZOR BLADES TO CARVE THEIR OWN SKIN
“Members of this violent CVLT community groomed children into producing child sexual abuse material through various means of degradation, including exposing the victims to extremist and violent content,” Europol explained.
“CVLT specifically targeted vulnerable victims, including minors suffering from mental health issues or a history of sexual abuse. Victims were encouraged to engage in increasingly dehumanising acts, including cutting and eating their own hair, drinking their urine, punching themselves, calling themselves racial insults, and using razor blades to carve CVLT members’ names into their skin.
“CVLT members’ coercion escalated to pressuring victims to kill themselves via video livestream. They blackmailed the victims to submit and remain silent, threatening to distribute already-obtained compromising photos and videos to their family and friends.
“CVLT would sometimes go through with their threats against victims who tried to escape their grip. CVLT is part of a larger network of extremist and child abusers active within similar online communities, referred to as ‘The Com’.”
MINORS TARGETED THROUGH ‘EASILY ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL PLATFORMS’
Europol warned that abusive online groups are targeting and exploiting vulnerable children and young people on easily accessible digital platforms.
“There are multiple groups, associations and evolving subgroups that make up the online network known as The Com – short for community. The Com is a virtual community of groups and individuals who conduct illicit activities that glorify serious violence, cruelty, and gore.”
Elements of The Com network are known to have extreme ideological views and victimise children, coercing them to commit violent acts.
“PREDATORS GROOM THEIR VICTIMS THROUGH DIFFERENT METHODS”
Predators groom their victims through different methods – one approach is establishing friendships based on trust or romantic relationships. Another technique involves the use of power or coercive tactics with one goal – taking control over the victims, while getting them to engage in serious violence, self-harm, or other gruesome acts.
“It’s a vicious cycle – the predators in this network influence children or young people into conducting acts that increasingly shame, incriminate, or isolate them, this in turn makes them more vulnerable to further exploitation,” a Europol spokesperson added.
EUROPOL FACILITATING LAW ENFORCEMENT COORDINATION AGAINST SUCH GROUPS
The EU’s official law enforcement agency stated that it facilitates information sharing and offers analytical support for investigations into online communities focused on child abuse and serious harm to vulnerable youth.
In late January 2025, Europol organised a three-day operational meeting concerning The Com network of online child abusers. On the first day, Europol connected 100 intelligence and law enforcement officers worldwide to share insights on the issue. Throughout the meeting, 50 participants reviewed cases to identify active members within these communities and to locate and protect their victims.