Europol-led action targets nihilistic violent extremist network ‘The Com’

Over several weeks in June and July 2026, Europol supported an action targeting nihilistic violent extremist content online. Investigators from nine countries participated in these ‘Referral Action Days’, with the common goal to disrupt The Com online ecosystem and limit propaganda dissemination, as well as to find new investigative leads. The action also aimed at enhancing platforms’ response to and awareness of terrorist content online produced and disseminated by The Com groups.

An estimated 4,340 URLs related to nihilistic violent extremism were referred during the initiative organised by Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit – EU IRU and the Spanish Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO). This successful action complements the efforts undertaken within Project COMPASS, coordinated by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, which unites law enforcement authorities from EU Member States and third-party partners to address The Com.

The Com, referring to the “Community,” is a loose network of fringe online groups that adhere to a misanthropic and nihilistic worldview. These groups lack a unified ideology or centralized structure, and within this ecosystem, violence is often an end in itself. Some factions have adopted violent right-wing extremist beliefs and accelerationist views, aiming to hasten societal collapse through violent attacks and the corruption of youth.

Read more at Europol