Teen Murder-for-Hire Ring: 7 Arrested in Europe
- A coordinated effort across Europe has led to the arrest of seven individuals, including a 14-year-old, for their alleged involvement in a "violence-as-a-service" operation.
- The suspects, ranging in age from 14 to 26, include two 18-year-old men apprehended in Western Sweden.
- These arrests stem from several investigations into attempted murders orchestrated thru encrypted chat services.One such incident occurred on May 7 in Kokkedal, Denmark, Europol reported.
Across Europe, law enforcement has arrested seven individuals in connection too a disturbing “violence-as-a-service” operation. These arrests, involving individuals as young as 14, highlight the exploitation of teenagers as hitmen. Authorities discovered encrypted apps were utilized for the recruitment adn orchestration of contract killings, primarily in Denmark and Sweden. The examination,spearheaded by Europol’s Taskforce GRIMM,reveals a shocking trend: the outsourcing of murder by criminal networks. The suspects, ranging from 14 to 26 years old, are linked to a series of attempted murders. For more details on this developing story, be sure to visit News Directory 3. Discover what’s next as Europol continues its crackdown.
Teens Recruited as Hitmen in Europe’s “Violence-as-a-Service”
Updated June 21, 2025
A coordinated effort across Europe has led to the arrest of seven individuals, including a 14-year-old, for their alleged involvement in a ”violence-as-a-service” operation. According to Europol, encrypted messaging applications were used to recruit teenagers for contract killings in Denmark and Sweden.
The suspects, ranging in age from 14 to 26, include two 18-year-old men apprehended in Western Sweden. Authorities believe they actively recruited young people to carry out targeted assassinations. Other suspects are accused of providing weapons, ammunition, and safe houses to the hired hitmen.
These arrests stem from several investigations into attempted murders orchestrated thru encrypted chat services.One such incident occurred on May 7 in Kokkedal, Denmark, Europol reported.
Europol’s Operational Taskforce GRIMM is spearheading the effort to combat the increasing use of encrypted platforms for coordinating contract killings. This initiative aims to disrupt what law enforcement officials are calling “violence-as-a-service.”
The examination involves collaboration between Swedish police and law enforcement agencies in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Norway.
In April, a 15-year-old boy was arrested in Western sydney, Australia, for allegedly facilitating contract killings in Europe using encrypted messaging apps. The arrest followed a tip from Danish police regarding a foreign national in Australia with ties to European organized crime.
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Lars Feldt-Rasmussen, Deputy Chief Superintendent of the danish National special crime Unit, stated that the teenager in Australia is suspected of attempting to recruit individuals for contract killings related to ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region.
Europol data indicates that minors are involved in over 70% of criminal markets, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and property crime. These teenagers are often recruited online through social media and encrypted messaging services.
Andy Kraag, head of Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Center, emphasized the severity of the situation. “We are not dealing with petty street crime. This is calculated outsourcing of murder by criminal networks that treat human lives as disposable assets,” Kraag said.
What’s next
Europol and its partner agencies are expected to continue their efforts to dismantle these ”violence-as-a-service” networks and prevent the exploitation of young people in criminal activities. Further arrests and investigations are anticipated as the task force expands its reach.