Europol said the crime often involves ’the use of young perpetrators to carry out threats, assaults, or killings for a fee.’
The European Union police force (Europol) recently launched an operational task force to “tackle the rising trend of violence-as-a-service” and the recruitment of young people by organized crime syndicates.
The agency said the crime often involves “the use of young perpetrators to carry out threats, assaults, or killings for a fee.”
“Investigations show that these acts are often orchestrated remotely, with young people recruited and instructed online,” Europol said.
Because the youth are hired by anonymous recruiters, hiding behind apps, the police are often unable to trace and prosecute them for any violence perpetrated.
Joris van der Aa, a crime reporter with the Gazet van Antwerpen in Belgium, said the announcement from Europol was “alarming” but not a surprise.
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