Two 17-year-olds arrested in Greece for online child abuse tied to international sadistic group '764'
Greek authorities arrested two 17-year-old boys in Crete and Thessaloniki on Thursday, accusing them of being members of an international extremist-sadistic group that coerced minors into producing sexual abuse material and self-harm content.
The operation
Greek police carried out a coordinated operation on the morning of 18 June 2026, raiding homes in Heraklion, Crete, and a district of Thessaloniki. The arrests followed a preliminary investigation ordered by prosecutors and a lengthy digital analysis by the Cyber Crime Unit and the Northern Greece Cyber Crime Subdivision. Judicial officials were present during the searches, and two mobile phones, a computer, a hard drive, and an external hard drive were seized.
The defendants
Both suspects are Greek nationals, aged 17, whose identities have not been disclosed. They are alleged to have used social media accounts to threaten and blackmail underage girls, extracting pornographic material depicting the victims. According to police, they also encouraged the minors to self-harm, including carving the names or pseudonyms the suspects used online into their own bodies.
Connection to group '764'
Investigators found evidence that the two users were linked to or acted within the framework of an extremist-sadistic abuse group described as an organized network with international reach. One of the sources explicitly names the group as '764'. The group is known for targeting minors through online platforms and using threats, extortion, and intense psychological pressure to force victims into producing and sending child sexual abuse material. In some cases, members attempt to push victims toward self-destructive or suicidal acts.
International cooperation
The investigation involved cooperation with US authorities, specifically the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Information and data shared by these agencies helped Greek police identify the two online users within Greek territory. Further communication with internet and telecommunications providers confirmed their identities, home internet connections, and residential addresses in Crete and Thessaloniki.
Evidence seized
During the searches, police found and confiscated two mobile phones, a computer, a hard drive, and an external hard drive. An on-site digital examination of the devices revealed videos of child sexual abuse, as well as photos and videos of individuals self-harming. The seized digital exhibits will be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the relevant forensics divisions for further analysis.
