The Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (CUTA) has published a new leaflet to inform schools, support workers and youth workers about nihilistic extremism. According to the agency, this relatively new form of extremism primarily targets vulnerable children and young people, who are approached via social media and manipulated into harming themselves or others.
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Threat detection agency warns of nihilistic extremism among young people
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Nihilistic extremism was also addressed in the agency’s latest annual report. In it, CUTA states that the phenomenon is quite exceptional but does merit special attention, as there may be under-detection.
According to figures from June 2026, six individuals with links to nihilistic extremism are under priority surveillance in its “Terrorism, Extremism and Radicalisation” database. By way of comparison, 446 people are being monitored for Islamist extremism and 47 for right-wing extremism.
What happens elsewhere today may have consequences here tomorrow
In March this year, a minor from East Flanders was detained for his role in a sadistic online network.
Nihilistic extremism differs from other forms of extremism in that it is not driven by political, religious or social objectives. Instead, it centres on a worldview characterised by meaninglessness, destruction and disruption.
Within online networks, violence, humiliation, self-harm and social chaos are glorified or normalised.
Such networks are primarily active online and lack a clear organisational structure. They consist of loose groups and subcultures whose members move between them. Young people are sometimes radicalised gradually through memes, provocative humour, violent visual culture and closed online communities.
A striking feature is that the line between victimhood and perpetration can become blurred. According to the OCAD, young people are often first targeted on the basis of vulnerabilities such as mental health issues, social isolation or identity-related concerns.
Perpetrators can then build a relationship of trust and pressure victims into harming themselves or others. In some cases, young people are forced to recruit other victims or engage in harmful behaviour.
Most recruitment takes place via online platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, Roblox and Fortnite. Children aged between eight and 17 are said to be particularly targeted.
Although it mainly takes place online, it can have serious consequences offline. The leaflet cites self-harm, violence against others, animal cruelty, arson and other forms of serious transgressive behaviour as possible manifestations.
According to CUTA director Gert Vercauteren, violent incidents linked to nihilistic extremism have already occurred at schools in other countries.
“The phenomenon mainly affects young, vulnerable people, originates online and knows no borders,” Vercauteren says. “What happens elsewhere today may have consequences here tomorrow.”
The leaflet is intended for professionals in education, youth work, the welfare sector and mental healthcare. It contains an overview of possible signs that may indicate involvement, along with recommendations for further follow-up.