The quiet residential area of Borås, Sweden, was shaken last weekend when a woman walking her dog was stabbed in the back. She managed to call emergency services and was taken to the hospital, where she remains under care for her injuries. Hours later, police apprehended a 14-year-old boy who is now the prime suspect in an attempted murder investigation. The incident took a disturbing turn when a video, seemingly filmed from the attacker’s perspective, surfaced online the same evening. Set to loud music, the rapidly flashing clips showed a masked figure, a small kitchen knife, and footsteps in the snow, interspersed with the text ”Stab your back.” The video, initially reported by SVT, was traced back to an online group known as 764. Adding another layer of complexity, the video included messages from the suspected perpetrator referencing ”Slain,” the online alias of a minor involved in several random attacks in the Hässelby district of Stockholm the previous year. This individual, believed to be influenced by a sadistic online group called No Lives Matter, had stabbed two people in those attacks. The Borås police are now investigating potential links between these incidents.
The emergence of the video, and its subsequent spread online, has raised significant concerns. Police have urged the public to refrain from sharing the clip, emphasizing the distress it causes the victim and the risk of glorifying such acts, potentially inspiring copycat attacks. Experts who monitor online extremist activity describe this phenomenon as deeply disturbing. The act of documenting and disseminating the violence, as seen in this case and with the “Slain” persona, is characteristic of No Lives Matter. These individuals are driven by a desire to establish a notorious online “brand” for themselves through their violent actions. The potential for such disturbing content to inspire further violence is a grave concern for law enforcement. The fact that the violence is not only committed but also recorded and disseminated online underscores the unsettling nature of this phenomenon.
The online groups involved, 764 and No Lives Matter, are linked through a complex web of influence. 764 was founded by Bradley Cadenhead, a Texas teenager currently serving an 80-year prison sentence for child pornography offenses. In 2020, Cadenhead created a Discord server named after the first digits of his zip code. He coerced children into sharing explicit images, subsequently blackmailing and manipulating them into self-harm. While Cadenhead’s actions might initially appear to be the work of a disturbed individual, the involvement of other extremist groups added an ideological dimension and facilitated the spread of his influence. He attracted the attention of groups like the Order of Nine Angles, a long-standing organization known for glorifying violence against women and children, believing that committing atrocities erodes compassion and cultivates a form of demonic power. Another group within this sphere is the Maniac Murder Cult, a Russo-Ukrainian group whose founder pioneered the practice of filming attacks, editing the footage, and posting it on social media.
The common thread linking these groups is a young demographic with an extreme proclivity for violence, who perpetrate acts of brutality for entertainment and as a hobby. While the motivations behind these acts vary, they often incorporate elements of Satanism, sadism, and nihilism. Underlying these ideologies, however, is a distinctly Nazi and far-right perspective. No Lives Matter, for instance, justifies its actions through an antisemitic and Nazi narrative, claiming that Jewish people have shackled humanity with false morality through Christianity, designed to suppress white people and non-Jews. Within this twisted worldview, the victims are almost irrelevant. Any act of random sadistic violence is considered an act of resistance against this perceived world order. The indiscriminate nature of the violence, coupled with the warped justification, makes these acts even more chilling.
The recruitment process for these groups often occurs peer-to-peer in online spaces largely unsupervised by adults. These spaces are not far removed from popular online platforms frequented by children and young people, such as Roblox and Minecraft. The clues and entry points to these extremist communities are present in mainstream digital spaces, easily overlooked by adults unfamiliar with the specific language and coded messages used. This highlights the crucial importance of open communication between parents and children about online activity. Parents must be vigilant and engaged in their children’s digital lives, understanding the potential dangers lurking in seemingly innocuous online spaces. The ability to recognize the signs of extremist influence is vital for protecting vulnerable young people from falling prey to these dangerous ideologies.
In the Borås case, the suspect’s age prevents criminal prosecution. However, Swedish law allows for evidentiary proceedings to establish guilt, even if a sentence cannot be imposed. This process aims to formally acknowledge the offense and potentially pave the way for future interventions. While legal action against the young perpetrator is limited, the case emphasizes the urgent need to address the growing threat of online radicalization and the spread of violent extremist content. The complex interplay of online subcultures, ideological influences, and the ease with which disturbing content can be disseminated poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and society as a whole. The case underscores the need for increased awareness, proactive prevention strategies, and ongoing dialogue to protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to the lure of online extremism.
