FLASH NEWS
11-year-olds recruited as killers online, Europol arrests 200 people across Europe
2025-12-10 17:44:42 / BOTA
A large-scale international operation codenamed "Grimm" has dismantled a sophisticated criminal network that recruited minors from online platforms to use as contract killers.
According to Europol, around 200 people have been arrested in nine European countries, while dozens of murders have been prevented in time.
Investigations revealed that children were recruited through social networks, messaging apps and gaming platforms such as Fortnite, Counter-Strike and Discord, where recruiters offered them money, “status” or virtual benefits in exchange for committing crimes.
One of the most shocking cases is that of an 11-year-old Swedish boy who had agreed to commit a murder for $14,000, but was saved at the last moment by police.
The network operated with a well-organized structure, divided into four roles:
Instigators, who ordered and financed crimes from abroad;
Recruiters, who lure children through social networks and online games;
Coordinators, who provided weapons and logistics;
The executioners, usually teenagers with no criminal record, carried out the orders.
This phenomenon, which Europol defines as “Violence-as-a-Service,” has reached alarming proportions in Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and other countries. In Sweden alone, authorities estimate that over 1,700 minors under the age of 18 were involved in criminal networks during 2024.
The operation has prevented dozens of serious crimes across the continent, including planned murders, arms trafficking and explosives attacks.
In some cases, minors were prepared to travel abroad to commit crimes for hire, organized through Telegram and encrypted channels with thousands of members.
Following the operation, Europol and Swedish authorities have called on tech giants to step up controls and remove violent content from their platforms.
According to Teodoro Smedius, an official with the Swedish National Police, “tech companies have the tools to stop this phenomenon. When it comes to child safety, no one can remain neutral.”
Warning signs of minor involvement include changes in behavior, use of encrypted applications, concealment of online activities, sudden displays of wealth, or connections with unknown adults.
This extraordinary investigation has exposed a shocking reality for Europe: organized crime is using children as weapons, turning them into tools of a dark economy of violence./ Corriere della Sera
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