Radicalisation: clicks that lead to action
Davide* and Blerim* met online and chatted for months in various chat rooms. Gradually, they formed a virtual bond, united by the same extremist ideology and a shared obsession: to punish those whom they consider to be infidels. Together, they harbour the fantasy of mounting terrorist attacks.
According to information from fedpol and its partners, Davide became radicalised at lightning speed. The police observe a similar pattern in many cases: young people are drawn into a spiral of online radicalisation, fuelled by social media content that reinforces their initial convictions. Lost in this spiral, Davide consumed massive amounts of online propaganda and even began to produce it himself. Without a job or qualifications, he spent his days immersed in this virtual world, fixated on jihadist themes. The content on his cell phone and the keywords he typed into search engines indicate that his obsessions were now leaning towards tangible action.
Blerim has also brought his dark intentions into the real world and openly expresses his hatred of infidels. For several weeks, he went to various churches in his region and disrupted services. Convinced that Islam is the only true religion, he tried to impose his convictions in these places of worship. He even tried to preach his doctrine to a fedpol investigator.
‘It is troubling to see how convinced these young people are that they are on the right path, that they are ‘doing the right thing’. For some, radicalisation is deeply ingrained.’
Florian*, fedpol investigator
So far, police counter-terrorism measures have been taken against one of these two young men, who is now undergoing a deradicalisation programme following his release from pre-trial detention. The other has been sent to a juvenile detention facility. In such cases, the authorities always try to prioritise reintegration measures. Without adequate support, these young people run the risk of continuing their radical trajectory. For them, the transition to adulthood means that they could face much more severe penalties.
Radicalisation of young people – an
alarming trend in 2024
In 2024, jihadist radicalisation of teenagers and young adults became a major concern for the police and intelligence services. According to the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), the phenomenon affects Switzerland to a greater extent than it does other European countries.
This is confirmed in a number of cases. A few weeks after the stabbing incident in Zurich, three radicalised young people were arrested in the Cantons of Geneva and Vaud as they attempted to put their plan into action. In the spring, two teenagers were arrested in Schaffhausen for similar reasons. In the summer, two teenagers were apprehended after threatening to carry out a lorry attack during the Pride Festival in Zurich. At the end of 2024, two minors were arrested in southern Switzerland. One of them was just eleven years old. Both showed worrying signs of radicalisation.
Building bridges with partners
fedpol investigates terrorism cases, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG). In addition to cases against young people, its investigations include those against adults and as yet unidentified suspects. fedpol analyses police data at tactical and strategic levels, lends support to smaller cantons and facilitates cooperation with cantonal and international police forces. It also provides expertise on jihadist terrorism, particularly in cases involving young people. Knowledge of this field is often limited in some cantons.
Following the events of 2024, fedpol set up a special working group to handle cases of radicalisation among young adults and teenagers, which liaised with the various authorities over a period. The main objective was to pool the results of investigations conducted by the various cantonal police forces, cantonal public prosecutors, the FIS, fedpol and the OAG. Emphasis was placed on sharing information from analyses, interviews and other investigations in order to identify links and connections between the people involved, particularly those active online, including in other countries. Thanks to these coordination efforts, the working group facilitated a standardised exchange of information among all parties concerned and ensured that the most suitable action could be taken.
* First name altered