Bartjan Wegter identifies nihilistic violent extremism as a growing security threat driven by online communities and young people.
European Union Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Bartjan Wegter stated that nihilistic violent extremism is becoming a significant security threat in Europe, characterized by a fascination with violence for its own sake rather than a specific ideology. This new form of extremism is primarily driven by young people, particularly boys, who use online networks and encrypted communities to gain status and notoriety.
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In 2025, a 16-year-old boy in Finland allegedly killed three female student colleagues and shared a manifesto on WhatsApp. Similarly, a 15-year-old boy in Italy planned a murder to gain online notoriety. These incidents are often difficult to track because the individuals involved frequently lack a criminal record and leave footprints primarily in digital environments. thought<channel|>```json, {