The White Tiger Case
Through the "White Tiger" case, nihilistic, violent extremism also entered the media landscape of the Federal Republic of Germany. On June 17, 2025, a 20-year-old who identified himself online as a "White Tiger" was arrested in Hamburg. He is accused of having "committed more than 120 criminal offences between the ages of 16 and 19, in particular those directed against life, physical integrity and sexual self-determination, via the Internet to the detriment of a total of eight child or juvenile victims". 1 These include allegations of motivating a 13-year-old boy from the United States to hang herself during a live video and driving a 14-year-old girl from Canada to slit her wrists – she survived. 2
What is nihilistic, violent extremism (NVE)?
Nihilistic, violent extremism (NVE) is a form of extremism that has developed in its current form, especially since the second half of the 2010s. Since the term is defined differently by both security authorities and scientists, it must be evaluated as a working term.
As a common characteristic of existing currents, it can be stated that actors have a misanthropic worldview, despise civilized forms of society and try to disrupt existing political and social structures through criminal acts. While the use of violence is used to achieve political goals, like classic forms of extremism, violence within NVE is not only a means to an end, but often the end itself.
Nihilistic violence is characterized by perpetrators with a misanthropic worldview
In nihilistic violence, the focus is on general hatred of society, whereby – and this is what distinguishes this criterion from hatred in right-wing extremism or Islamism – the focus is not on a particular group, minorities or democratic values, but on society as a whole. That is why the motivation of the criminal or violent acts has no political ideology. Rather, it is an inner desire to hurt people or to receive attention in one's own community, which has a motivating effect. 3 The selection of victims is not based on a specific scheme, as the focus should not be on the victim but on the perpetrator. Acts of violence committed by members of the true crime community, but also actors in the com network or school shootings fall into this category.
Nihilistic extremism is characterized by individuals with a misanthropic worldview
There is also an intense hatred of society in nihilistic extremism, but political narratives play a role to varying degrees of intensity. As a result, different enemy images shape the thoughts and actions of the actors. Corresponding manifestos serve as a cornerstone for right-wing extremist ideas – especially anti-Semitism, LGBTQ+ hostility, misogyny or racism. For this reason, criminal and violent acts committed are politically motivated, as the selection of victims has ideological connotations and the focus is less on the perpetrator and more on the respective community of the victim. If an actor in the 764 network explicitly grooms a young woman into the scene because of her gender, this is an example of nihilistic extremism. Despite the ideological narratives and high propensity for violence, the NE does not pursue a long-term political goal, as clout chasing always has a higher significance than ideology.
Nihilistic accelerationism is also characterized by individuals with a misanthropic view
In contrast to nihilistic violence and nihilistic extremism, ideological facets and political enemy images are much more strongly rooted in nihilistic accelerationism. Criminal and violent acts are committed with the concrete and long-term goal of accelerationism – to plunge society into chaos by accelerating. Victims are chosen for tactical or ideological reasons. Violent crimes by the Maniac Murder Cult are emblematic of this category.
Com Network ("The Community")
The Com network describes a loose association of different groups characterized by cybercriminal activities, the production and sharing of sexual abuse images of minors (CSAM) and the use of brute force. Originally, the Com network developed on the gaming platform Discord, where young people shared images of their crimes. This included vandalism and bodily harm, but also financial crime and hacking. 4
The Com network can be seen as an organizational melting pot for similar actors. However, it is itself part of the so-called Edgesphere. This consists of several ever-changing and intersecting extreme internet subcultures that developed between 2018 and 2020. In addition to the Incel or true crime communities, this also includes subcultures such as foodists, Skibbidi Farms, gore networks, Larpercore, Watch People Die or extreme furry communities. 5 Nihilistic violence, extremism or accelerationism can develop in these subgroups and influence each other through their digital, transnational character.
764 is probably the largest group in the Com network with numerous splinter groups
The FBI has 250 ongoing cases,6 against members of 764 and also the perpetrator White Tiger from Hamburg identifies himself with 764. CVLT was created between 2017 and 2019 and was active until 2022 – after which the structures ran away or merged into 764. Rohan Sandeep Rane (known as Rohan) is considered the founder, two other people followed him and gained special influence: Collin John Thomas Walker (known as WRATH/O9A. WRATH) and Kaleb Merritt (known as eTerror/o9a.evil). 7 The 764 network is characterized by a strong hierarchy and clear roles. The highest form of affiliation is the Inner Cell, which is only opened to members who prove their loyalty. Below this, the 764 network is divided into different cells. Cell owners are people who coordinate and have control over an independent cell within 764. In these, there are two different types of members. Veterans are people who have demonstrated their unconditional support through their actions over a longer period of time. Recruits, on the other hand, are new members who must first prove their loyalty by creating content. 8
CVLT (pronounced: Cult, but also known as CULTIST)
CVLT was one of the first known groups to systematically merge CSAM materials as well as an accelerationist ideology in a digital ecosystem. The leaders were strongly influenced by the O9A ideology. Initially, the members operated on the messenger service Kik and Instagram, later this shifted to Discord and Telegram. The further development of the entire scene was shaped by the establishment of so-called "cut shows" in closed circles, in which people injured themselves by scratching the names of the CVLT members into their skin. 7
Maniac Murder Cult (abbreviated as MKU, but also MKY or MMC)
The Maniac Murder Cult (Маньяки: культ убийства in Russian) is a far-right, accelerationist group in the Com network. The outline of the historical development is not one hundred percent reliable on the basis of available documents. On the one hand, various information comes from published MKU manifestos, in which, however, it cannot be ruled out that false information was deliberately inserted as propagandistic elements. On the other hand, Russian state media reported on the arrests of individual members. Since Russian state propaganda in the wake of the war of aggression on Ukraine in 2022, which violates international law, increasingly serves the narrative of neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine, this information must also be viewed with caution.
In the course of MKU's development, alliances with Western COM actors have formed, but it is not yet known which side initiated this and how strongly this cooperation is developed. Two groups are particularly in focus:
1. Satanic Front
The Satanic Front is an occult, militant group that combines elements of nihilistic accelerationism with apocalyptic spirituality. It was founded in the USA, but now functions as a transnational organization, for example with the Brazilian offshoot Ação Satánica Nacional. 9 In a publication by MKU, an organisational link between the two groups was announced. Individual contact between members has also been proven on Telegram. 10
2. National Socialist Order of Nine Angles (NSO9A)
The NSO9A is the successor to the National Socialist Order (NSO), which in turn is the successor to the Atomwaffen Division (AWD). Here, the long-standing ideological influence of the O9A on AWD is clearly visible. In March 2023, NSO9A posted videos of MKU on its website, purporting to show attacks from 2018-2019. Subsequently, NSO9A published a post that refers to MKU as a subsidiary organization. 11
No Lives Matter (NLM) is a group that can be assigned to the offline com
No Lives Matter propagandizes accelerationist actions, such as targeted attacks, mass murders, and other criminal activities. In addition, members were encouraged to self-harm and animal cruelty. NLM argues that societal norms should not exist, which is why the community is urged to spread chaos and terror. 12 Little is known about the origin and internal management of NLM. Initially, NLM acted as the western platform of the Maniac Murder Cult to recruit new members in English-speaking countries. 11 While the group announced in April 2024 that it rejected any further connection with the online torture network 76412, an official alliance between No Lives Matter and 764 was formed on 13 September 2024.
Recommendations for action in the event of nihilistic violence or nihilistic extremism
Nihilistic violence or nihilistic extremism has not yet been a uniform concept with which the security authorities in Germany work. For this reason, a defining framework for the security policy problem must be created as a first step. It is advisable that the German authorities orient themselves on criteria already formulated by other countries, but at the same time seek an exchange with the scientific community in order to include existing points of criticism in advance.
In a second step, the formulated definition must be shared with the state criminal police offices and, if necessary, the state offices for the protection of the constitution so that the employees of the police and intelligence service authorities are trained accordingly. This is the only way to ensure that a holistic picture of the situation is recorded. It is not unlikely that nihilistic groups will form in Germany that operate across federal states. If the authorities involved in the countries come to different assessments, actors of the same group can be incorrectly categorized. The fluid character of the COM network can only be penetrated by an efficient transmission of information between the security authorities. The aim must be to develop a picture of the situation that covers both intra-German and transnational connections.
Read the entire publication "Terrorism without a goal? The Development of Nihilistic Violence" here as PDF. Please not, to date this publication is only available in German.
[1] Hamburg police (undated): Soko Mantacore executes arrest warrant on suspicion of completed and attempted murder. www.polizei.hamburg/cybergrooming-1071502.
[2] Nimz, Ulrike (18 June 2025): Abused, tormented and driven to death, in: Süddeutsche Zeitung. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/paedokriminelles-netzwerk-sexueller-missbrauch-in-den-tod-getrieben-li.3271046?reduced=true.
[3] Rai, Steven & Zoschak, Cody (1 July 2025): Setting the Record Straight on Nihilistic Violence, in: Just Security. www.justsecurity.org/115907/setting-record-straight-nihilistic-violence/.
[4] Smith, Peter (5 August 2025): Com/764: Transnational Abuse, Extortion, and Cybercrime Networks Targeting Youth. www.antihate.ca/com_764_transnational_abuse_networks_report .
[5] Argentino, Marc-André (18 September 2025): Beyond the Headlines: Arrest Data and Drivers of Nihilistic Violent Extremism in the Com Network. www.maargentino.com/beyond-the-headlines-arrest-data-and-drivers-of-nihilistic-violent-extremism-in-the-com-network/?ref=from-the-depths-newsletter.
[6] Levine, Mike; Thomas, Pierre, Bruggeman, Lucien (May 6, 2025): FBI has opened 250 investigations tied to violent online network '764' that preys on teens, top official says, in: abc news. abcnews.go.com/US/fbi-opened-250-investigations-tied-violent-online-network/story?id=121480884.
[7] Accelerationism Research Consortium (undated): CVLT Historical Threat Assessment of the Precursor to 764. www.accresearch.org/shortanalysis/svjdmt1twn9ccz0c4uxnbqrauywwcn.
[8] Argentino, Marc-André (March 7, 2025): Blood, Betrayal, and Branding: Inside 764's Hierarchy of Horrors. www.maargentino.com/blood-betrayal-and-branding-inside-764s-hierarchy-of-horrors/.
[9] Argentino, Marc-André (7 January 2025): The Devil's Blueprint: How Satanic Front Manuals Reveal Its Global Network (Part IV). www.maargentino.com/the-devils-blueprint-how-satanic-front-manuals-reveal-its-global-network-part-iv/.
[10] Argentino, Marc-André (July 1, 2024): Part 3 When No Lives Matter: М.К.У. and its Affiliation to Domestic Nihilistic Satanism. www.maargentino.com/part-3-when-no-lives-matter-m-k-u-and-its-affiliation-to-domestic-nihilistic-satanism/.
[11] Argentino, Marc-André; Gay, Barrett; Bastin, Matt (September 2024): Nihilism and Terror: How M.K.Y. Is Redefining Terrorism, Recruitment, and Mass Violence, in: CTC Sentinel, Volume 17, Issue 8, pp. 22-29.
[12] Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (21 August 2024): No Lives Matter Updates Extremist Messaging and Publishes Tactical Guides. www.njohsp.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1430/2.
