A coordinated effort led by Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit (National enhed for Særlig Kriminalitet), with the support of the Swedish Police (Polisen) and Europol under the Operational Taskforce (OTF) GRIMM, has resulted in the arrest of several individuals suspected of recruiting others – including minors – to carry out contract killings in Denmark.
The arrests follow multiple investigations into attempted murders ordered via encrypted platforms, including a recent attack on 7 May 2025 in Kokkedal. A total of seven individuals aged between 14 and 26 have now been arrested or surrendered to Danish authorities from abroad, notably Sweden and Morocco.
Among those arrested are two 18-year-old men apprehended in Western Sweden and suspected of actively recruiting youngsters to commit targeted killings in Denmark and Sweden. Several suspects are also believed to have facilitated the attacks by providing weapons, ammunition and safe houses for the hitmen.
These cases are part of a growing trend observed across Europe, where youngsters are recruited online to carry out violent crimes, often across borders. The criminal networks exploit social media to post contract offers for shootings, a modus operandi known as ‘violence-as-a-service’, that increasingly puts minors at the heart of cross-border organised crime.
Torben Svarrer
Chief Police Inspector at the Danish National Special Crime Unit
We are stepping up our cooperation across the Nordic countries and through OTF GRIMM. We know what these criminal networks are doing, and we are determined to prevent these attacks. Let this serve as a warning to young people approached on social media with promises of easy money: our investigations show the reality is far less lucrative than promised, and the consequences can be severe.
Theodor Smedius
Superintendent at the Swedish Police’s National Operations Department
Through international police cooperation, we will continue the hunt for those fuelling violence from behind the veil of anonymity on digital platforms – wherever in the world they may be. At the same time, we must again stress the urgent need for platform owners to step up their self-monitoring and remove violent content. They have the technology to do this. When it comes to the safety of our children, both public authorities and private companies – including tech firms – must play on the same team.
OTF GRIMM delivers results
These actions were supported by Europol through OTF GRIMM, an operational taskforce launched in April 2025 to tackle the growing use of encrypted services to coordinate contract killings across Europe.
The taskforce currently brings together Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Europol. Iceland is the most recent country to join, further strengthening the collective effort against violence-as-a-service. More countries are expected to follow in the coming months.
Thanks to the intelligence shared within the taskforce, a number of important targets have already been arrested, with investigations continuing across Europe. Joint efforts with online service providers are also underway to help dismantle the criminal infrastructure enabling these attacks.
Andy Kraag
Head of Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Centre
Teenagers being paid to pull the trigger — this is what organised crime looks like in 2025. We are not dealing with petty street crime. This is calculated outsourcing of murder by criminal networks that treat human lives as disposable assets. Through Europol’s OTF GRIMM, law enforcement is tracking down the masterminds and dismantling the infrastructure they hide behind. There is no safe haven — online or offline — for those who trade in violence.
Parents and communities are encouraged to remain vigilant and look for early signs of criminal recruitment, such as sudden behaviour changes or unexplained possession of money or expensive items. Europol has developed an awareness guide offering practical advice to help protect young people from falling prey to these manipulative criminal schemes.
Further updates on investigations and operational progress will be shared on the OTF’s dedicated landing page as law enforcement advances in tackling this urgent challenge.
