Europol Flags 4,340 URLs Linked to The Com for Removal
Summary
Europol says a multi-week operation involving nine countries flagged 4,340 URLs linked to The Com for removal in June and July 2026, aiming to disrupt the network’s online ecosystem and generate investigative leads.
Key points
- Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit and Spain’s CITCO organized the Referral Action Days, with investigators from nine countries participating.
- The operation targeted violent, exploitative, and radicalizing material that Europol says The Com uses to recruit and control young people.
- Europol describes The Com as a decentralized network with subgroups including Offline Com, Cyber Com, (S)extortion Com, and 764.
- Europol says the broader Project Compass operation, launched in January 2025, has resulted in 30 arrests and identified 179 suspects and 62 victims.
- Europol says The Com’s subgroups engage in activities including network intrusions, ransomware attacks, grooming, and extortion.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Europol-led law enforcement referral operation targeting online content linked to The Com.
- Impact
- During Referral Action Days held between June and July 2026, Europol and authorities from nine countries flagged 4,340 URLs for removal. The operation aimed to disrupt The Com’s online ecosystem, limit the spread of violent, exploitative, and radicalizing content, and generate investigative leads.
People
Leonidas VaragiannisIdentified in the article as an alleged 764 leader who was arrested in April 2025 and is facing charges related to operating an international child exploitation ring.Prasan NepalIdentified in the article as an alleged 764 leader who was arrested in April 2025 and is facing charges related to operating an international child exploitation ring.
Threat Actors
(S)extortion ComEuropol identifies (S)extortion Com as a The Com subgroup that coerces minors into sex crimes and encourages self-harm and suicide.764Europol identifies 764 as a The Com subgroup associated with grooming young people into producing explicit content that is used for blackmail or shared among members.Cyber ComEuropol identifies Cyber Com as a The Com subgroup that orchestrates network intrusions and ransomware attacks.Offline ComEuropol identifies Offline Com as a The Com subgroup that promotes property damage, harming others, and acts of terrorism.The ComEuropol describes The Com as a decentralized network of nihilistic violent extremist groups that recruits and grooms young people and is linked to violent, exploitative, and radicalizing content.
Countries
BelgiumInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.FinlandInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.HungaryInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.IrelandInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.LuxembourgInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.PortugalInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.SpainThe action, involving nine countries and Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit and Spain’s CITCO, targeted violent, exploitative, and radicalizing material used to recruit and control young victims.SwedenInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.the NetherlandsInvestigators from nine countries (i.e., Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden) took part in what Europol called “Referral Action Days” between June and July 2026.