Europol has flagged 4,340 URLs for removal during a multi-week operation targeting online content linked to "The Com," a loosely organized network of nihilistic violent extremist groups.
Investigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called "Referral Action Days" between June and July 2026.
The joint action, which ties into the European Commission's ProtectEU counterterrorism agenda and was organized by Europol's EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) and Spain's Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO), aimed to disrupt The Com's online ecosystem, limit nihilistic violent extremism content disseminated online by The Com groups, and generate new investigative leads.
"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. [..] 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," Europol said. "
"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."
