Law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden participated in **Europol's** "Referral Action Days" between June and July 2026. This joint action is a component of the European Commission's **ProtectEU** counter-terrorism agenda and was organized by **Europol's** EU Internet Referral Unit (**EU IRU**) and Spain's Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (**CITCO**). ### Unmasking 'The Com's' Sinister Content **Europol** highlighted the insidious nature of 'The Com's' online presence, stating, "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 flagged content includes violent videos and images depicting self-harm, suicide, child sexual abuse material (**CSAM**), animal cruelty, and violent attacks. Further content includes "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." This operation builds upon **Project Compass**, a year-long initiative launched in January 2025 by **Europol's** European Counter Terrorism Centre, which has involved law enforcement from 28 countries. As previously reported, **Project Compass** has led to 30 arrests, identified 179 suspects, and uncovered 62 victims linked to 'The Com'. In January 2025, **Europol** also issued a notification on the increasing prevalence of online cult communities specifically targeting young people. ### What is The Com? **Europol** describes 'The Com' (short for Community) as a decentralized network lacking a unified ideology, with some factions adhering to violent right-wing extremist and accelerationist beliefs. These groups actively recruit and groom victims through social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms, coercing them into self-harm, violence, and the production of **CSAM**, often through extortion. "They distribute propaganda on accessible platforms to attract young individuals, funnelling potential members and victims into private forums and chat rooms where radicalisation and victimisation occur. Victims are typically coerced into remaining under the perpetrators' influence through (s)extortion," **Europol** elaborated. ### Subgroups and Notorious Activities According to **Europol's** February announcement, 'The Com' is structured into several subgroups: * **Offline Com**: Promotes property damage, physical harm, and acts of terrorism. * **Cyber Com**: Orchestrates network intrusions and ransomware attacks. * **(S)extortion Com**: Coerces minors into sex crimes and encourages self-harm and suicide. * **764**: A subgroup that emerged in 2021, notorious for grooming young people into producing explicit content used for blackmail or shared among members. In April 2025, two alleged **764** leaders, **Prasan Nepal** (20) and **Leonidas Varagiannis** (21), were arrested and now face potential life imprisonment for operating an international child exploitation ring. 'The Com' has also been linked to high-profile ransomware attacks, including the **Las Vegas casino breaches** in September 2023, and attacks against **Marks & Spencer**, **Co-op**, and **Harrods** in April 2025.