The Coordination Body for Threat Assessment (OCAD) in Belgium received 18% of threat complaints in 2024 involving juveniles, and its annual report highlighted the high rate of radicalization among youth. Last year, OCAD received 287 threat notifications, 13% less than in 2023, 213 of which were connected to terrorism or extremism. The number of children connected to extreme violence has increased; France, Sweden, and Germany have also seen this trend. Nearly one-third of those who planned attacks in Belgium over the previous three years were younger than 18. Last year, 30 minors with full status were included in OCAD’s database. Security services see a rise of tiny terror cells and networks, mostly online, even if the majority of threats still originate from lone individuals. It is difficult for authorities to stop young people from becoming radicalized.
