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A network of typically young males responsible for the sadistic targeting of mostly young girls – described as having “common beliefs on violent extremism, nihilism, Nazism, satanism and sadism” – will be the target of a new AFP taskforce.
The new Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police has used an address to the National Press Club to announce the formation of a specialist taskforce aimed at tackling what it calls a “decentralised online crime network exploiting Australian youth”.
According to the AFP, this group – made up of several affiliated sub-groups with similar interests – is responsible for cyber attacks targeting “major communication companies”, the production of extremist material, and the exploitation of predominantly young girls to earn respect from their criminal peers.
The newly formed Taskforce Pompilid will be composed of experienced cyber crime, counter-terrorism, and child protection investigators and specialists and will utilise the full powers of the AFP and its partners.
“Members of this decentralised online criminal network are cowards who hide in the dark corners of the internet and partake in criminal activities,” AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in a 29 October statement.
“These online criminals believe they can hide online and commit abhorrent crimes with no repercussions for the pain caused from behind a keyboard.
“The crimes these individuals commit, whether that be cyber attacks or the exploitation of a vulnerable child for their own sadistic pleasure, demonstrate no consideration for the dignity, privacy and safety of human beings.
“Taskforce Pompilid is the AFP’s commitment to eradicating these individuals – we want to take them away from their computer screens and put them before real-world courts to face justice for their crimes.”
Fifty-nine Australian members of the network have already been identified, and through working with its international partners, the AFP has assisted in three domestic and nine international arrests.
The AFP said members of the network shared “common beliefs on violent extremism, nihilism, Nazism, satanism and sadism”, were typically between 17 and 20 years of age, and targeted young girls with mental health issues and poor self-esteem, pushing them to commit self-harm or harm their pets. This material is recorded and shared among the network in order to gain status and notoriety.
“The AFP, with our Australian and international law enforcement partners, is ready to unmask you, arrest you, and expose you to the real-life consequences of your criminal behaviour,” Commissioner Barrett said.
A sub-group dedicated to tracking this collective has been established within the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group.
The AFP has also encouraged parents and carers to be on the lookout for signs that a young person is in contact with the group, including:
Speaking to the National Press Club, Commissioner Barrett described the group as “a worrying threat that we are still learning about in Australia, and why we all need to [be] vigilant”.
“They are crimefluencers, and are motivated by anarchy and hurting others, with most of their victims pre-teen or teenage girls,” Commissioner Barrett said.
“These networks, which I will not name because [they] will validate the notoriety they crave, are a new and disturbing front in traditional gender-based violence.”
If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).
For more information on sadistic online exploitation and how to report it, visit the ACCCE website. You can also make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers via its website or 1800 333 000.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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