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Police in the Netherlands have announced the arrest of 15 people accused of disseminating ISIS propaganda and inciting terrorist acts through TikTok and other social media platforms.

Getting into it: The arrests were the result of a counter-terrorism operation carried out across multiple Dutch cities. The suspects, 13 of Syrian nationality and some of them dual nationals, ranged in age from 16 to 53, with four identified as minors. According to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, those arrested are accused of incitement to commit terrorist acts, disseminating propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization, and in some cases, active participation in a terrorist network.

Authorities say the investigation began in 2023 after they were tipped off about a TikTok account that had amassed significant traction by spreading extremist content. The account reportedly posted videos encouraging viewers to join ISIS, glorifying suicide bombings, and praising jihadist violence. Some of these videos surpassed 100,000 views and were described by prosecutors as containing calls to action and being designed to appeal to younger users, with some videos edited using animation effects, music, and emojis.

One key suspect, believed to be the network’s central figure, was arrested in January ahead of the coordinated raids. That arrest helped authorities map the broader network, leading to the detention of 15 individuals in a single day. Dutch prosecutors stressed that the glorification and promotion of terrorist ideologies pose a serious threat to public safety and that participation in such activity is a punishable offense under Dutch law.

The case is unfolding against the backdrop of shifting demographics in the Netherlands. Syrians now represent the largest refugee group in the country, with approximately 150,000 people of Syrian origin residing there. In 2023 alone, roughly 30,000 people received temporary residency, with over 50% of them being Syrian nationals.