At least five Dutch girls attempted suicide after joining sadistic online chat groups

In the past five years, at least five young Dutch girls have attempted suicide after participating in what AD describes as sadistic group chats. Most victims are girls between 12 and 22, although boys are sometimes targeted as well. The cases came to light after unidentified parents filed a police report.

The alleged abuse takes place within the Com, a network of online groups. One of its most extreme chat groups is reportedly “764.” Members share videos of themselves performing violent acts, including cutting themselves or others.

“The most status-enhancing thing is inciting someone to commit suicide on a livestream. And everyone can watch and cheer them on,” said Rob van Bree, chief of police for the National Investigation Unit. “You can hardly imagine it, but it just happens.”

In addition to the suicide attempts, minors were recruited through social media and digital platforms such as Discord and Roblox. They were then pressured in chat groups or private messages to perform sexual acts, humiliate themselves, or commit violence. In some cases, they were forced to carve the name of their abuser into their bodies.

The police are conducting a large-scale investigation with detectives specializing in terrorism, child pornography, and cybercrime. The police have arrested two alleged key players in the past six months.

Justin B., a 25-year-old from Eindhoven, established his group under the online alias Cxrpse, allegedly inciting his members to commit violent acts. As far as is known, he did not encourage any victims to attempt suicide.

Mert A., 23, from Hoofddorp, allegedly blackmailed young people with nude images and forced them to carve his online username into their legs and chests with a knife, according to the Public Prosecution Service.

But many more Dutch users are reportedly active, Van Bree said. “In our investigations, we have dozens of suspects in mind.”