German Federal Prosecutor investigates online extremist incitement

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office (Bundesanwaltschaft) is investigating a 19-year-old man from the Trier region suspected of leading extremist online groups known as the ‘COM-Szene’. The suspect is accused of using digital chats to incite minors to commit serious crimes globally, including a fatal stabbing in Russia, arson in the United States and Sweden, and other violent acts. The investigation covers charges including membership in terrorist and criminal organizations, incitement to murder, and the distribution of child pornography.

In response to the rise of digital radicalization, Austrian officials, including State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, have called for stricter regulations on the messaging platform Telegram. They argue the service must be classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under EU law to combat the spread of extremist propaganda and disinformation. Officials emphasized that radicalization is increasingly occurring in digital spaces, such as gaming platforms and encrypted chats, targeting younger demographics.