The operation sees Europol working alongside law enforcement in 11 nations and has already pinpointed over 1,400 individuals linked to violence offered as a service.
Europol, the police agency of the European Union, announced on Wednesday that an international taskforce targeting «violence for hire» has resulted in 280 arrests within its inaugural year.
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The wave of arrests highlights a European-wide pattern where criminals, often recruiting young individuals, employ social media and messaging platforms to facilitate violent acts, from assaults to killings, reflecting a disturbing shift resembling a gig economy.
«Violence has transcended isolated incidents and local circumstances. It is increasingly commodified: readily available, scalable, and propelled by online networks that support recruitment, organization, and execution across national borders,» Europol stated.
Launched in April 2025 and code-named «Grimm,» this taskforce represents a partnership between Europol and 11 European countries focused on addressing the increasing problem.
Within its first year, it identified over 1,400 individuals associated with the provision of violence as a service.
The detained individuals include a Dutch citizen accused of serving as a getaway driver for two minors allegedly involved in a series of explosions across Germany during July and August 2025.
In January, Swedish authorities arrested a minor suspected of participating in a shooting incident near a prison in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands.
Europol also published on its European most-wanted list three men sought for their suspected roles in violence-as-a-service networks: two from Sweden and one from Germany.
They face accusations linked to crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
Further action required
Law enforcement has engaged in discussions with Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat aiming to reduce the recruitment of perpetrators.
«This represents a constructive step. However, some platforms remain disengaged. Additional measures are necessary,» stated Theodor Smedius, superintendent at Sweden’s National Operations Department.
This issue is particularly pressing in Sweden, where gangs have increasingly enlisted children below the age of criminal responsibility.
According to Swedish legislation, children under 15 years old cannot be prosecuted but are under the care of social services, which makes them attractive recruits for criminal gangs.
Europol noted separately that its EU Most Wanted website has been instrumental in tracking fugitives, highlighting three suspects associated with violence-as-a-service crimes featured on the platform: two from Sweden and one from Germany.
The Grimm taskforce involves cooperation from Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Additional sources • AP, AFP