Norway’s police warn of unreported cases as “The Com” internet cult linked to over 100 suicides globally

Norway’s national criminal investigation service Kripos has warned that a dangerous online cult network known as “The Com” is becoming a serious and underreported social problem, as it reports more than 100 suicides worldwide connected to the phenomenon. Dagbladet, which has covered the network extensively since last summer, reports on the warnings issued at a professional seminar held by Kripos on Tuesday.

“There is reason to believe there are unreported cases connected to this problem. There are various acts of self-harm and suicide carried out in Norway as a consequence of ties to The Com. It appears to us that this is becoming a serious social problem that is underreported,” said Lone Austad, head of criminal investigations at Kripos.

The seminar brought together health professionals, child welfare workers, police and press. The Com, short for The Community, is estimated to have around 100,000 users globally. The FBI has reported several hundred active investigations into the network, representing a 300 percent increase.

65 criminal cases in Norway

As of 30 April this year, Norwegian authorities have opened 65 criminal cases linked to extreme violent online communities, involving 26 individuals. The average age of those involved is 15.5 years. Twenty-seven of the cases have been dropped. Several ongoing investigations relate to sexual offences and self-harm.

Kripos examined suicides committed by children under 18 between 2020 and 2025 but has not yet confirmed any cases directly linked to the cult network. Austad stressed this does not mean such cases do not exist. “We hope that drawing attention to this can generate adequate investigative steps in cases where a minor takes their own life,” she told Dagbladet.

The network pressures vulnerable children and young people into committing extreme acts as “slaves” to a “master.” Self-harm, torture and killing of pets, sexual abuse, violence, and suicides are livestreamed in online chat groups. Internationally, several of the affiliated groups have been designated as terrorist organisations.

Structure of the network

The Com operates through several distinct strands. CyberCom covers internet-based crimes including hacking, doxing, and swatting. SextortionCom involves sexual abuse, production of abuse material, self-harm and suicide. OfflineCom covers physical offences including vandalism, violence and knife attacks. Several Norwegian cases are linked to a subgroup called “764,” with others connected to groups including “No Lives Matter,” “MKY,” “CVLT,” and “1414.”

“There is overlapping membership across the groups. We see that arrests of active individuals do not stop the activity, but rather lead to an expansion with new leaders emerging. They maintain a form of operational security using false aliases and encrypted services,” Austad explained.

The groups celebrate mass killings, sexual extortion, animal abuse, and coerced self-harm and suicide. Perpetrators are required to document their actions. “They are preoccupied with symbolism. They use names, aliases, and combinations of letters and numbers often inspired by neo-Nazism. They are fascinated by known perpetrators of violence, who are worshipped as heroes — people who have killed many are treated as gods,” Austad said.

PST warns of radicalisation risk

Norway’s domestic intelligence service PST has also expressed concern about the network’s trajectory. “We are worried that the radicalisation process could end in mobilisation for violence and terrorism, because the violence is so escalating,” said PST senior adviser Caroline Iwarsson.

“We see with concern that this could serve as a radicalisation arena for more extreme activity. We are primarily concerned about the violence that is shared in absolutely enormous quantities in these forums, and what it does to a person’s inclination to carry out various actions — whether cyber-related or physical acts of violence,” she told Dagbladet.

Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen and Children’s Ombudsman Mina Gerhardsen have previously warned against the phenomenon.