A new and extremely dangerous form of organized crime is spreading across Europe, turning assassinations into a "paid service" that relies on the recruitment of vulnerable teenagers. According to BBC reports and Europol data, the Swedish criminal network Foxtrot is leading what authorities call Violence as a Service (VaaS).
The Gamification of Murder
Recruitment takes place almost exclusively through platforms like TikTok and encrypted messaging apps such as Signal. The masterminds behind the organization use codes from video game culture to lure young people. They use pseudonyms like "Agent 47" (from the Hitman series) and assign "missions" that include digital maps, coordinates for weapon caches, and video instructions.
These young assassins are treated as entirely disposable. Many are never paid for their actions, as they are often arrested immediately after or even before completing their mission, thereby shielding the high-ranking members who remain in the shadows.
Tragic Incidents and International Links
The network's activities have already claimed lives. In February 2025, a 20-year-old student in Stockholm was murdered in a case of mistaken identity by an 18-year-old hired by Foxtrot. In another instance, an 18-year-old Norwegian was sent to Manchester with a one-way ticket to carry out a hit, guided step-by-step via a mobile phone.
Beyond common crime, authorities are linking Foxtrot to geopolitical agendas. Following the flight of its leader, Rawa Majid, to Iran in 2023, the network has allegedly been used by Tehran for attacks against Israeli targets and dissidents in Europe, including a grenade attack on the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen.
The European Response
To combat this threat, Europol established the GRIMM operational task force, involving eleven countries. Within 15 months, more than 280 arrests have been made. However, authorities warn that the VaaS model is already being emulated by other organizations, as long as the masterminds remain beyond the reach of European jurisdiction.
