Europol warns of the rise of “violent online communities” that lure minors in to abuse them eventually. The European police force warns that children must be closely monitored to prevent them from being recruited by these types of cults.
“These networks radicalise minds in the shadows and incite them to violence in the real world,” says the head of Europol, Catherine De Bolle.
According to Europol, there are several of these types of cults. They mainly target children and teenagers aged 8 to 17, “particularly LGBTQ+, racial minorities and those struggling with mental health issues, such as depression and suicidal thoughts”. Trust is then gained, personal information is collected, and victims are ultimately abused.
The minors are said to have attacked or even killed people, including family members and sometimes random passers-by. Abusers are also said to force children to make sexual images and share such photos with other members of the group.
