On Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for scheduled oversight and gave details on how the FBI is working to combat online threats against Americans. As our sister site Twitchy reported, our children are the main targets of these dangerous predators and destructive online platforms. The alleged murderers of Charlie Kirk and UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson have become prime examples of where this type of radicalization leads.
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Patel mentioned in his opening statement a nihilist extremist group called "764," then alluded to the April arrests of two of their leaders. In May, Patel posted about this on X:
I'd encourage everyone to read this story on the violent 764 network and how the @FBI is working with local law enforcement to fight back.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 6, 2025
It's deeply disturbing, but critically important to understand what's out there and be aware of the threats American kids and families are… https://t.co/PU90nxqzGE
I'd encourage everyone to read this story on the violent 764 network and how the @FBI is working with local law enforcement to fight back.
It's deeply disturbing, but critically important to understand what's out there and be aware of the threats American kids and families are facing every day.
The criminals in these networks use online platforms to target vulnerable kids, coerce victims, and recruit others - often resulting in horrible cases of abuse.
It is absolutely tragic - and I want people to know we're cracking down hard. Remember, last week we announced our agents and partners arrested two alleged leaders within 764. We've opened hundreds of cases around the country and our field offices are fully engaged. This is a priority for myself, @FBIDDBongino, and our leadership team.
Those who come after America's children will face justice. We will be relentless in pursuing them.
We hope to have more updates very soon. Thank you to our teams and partners who are treating this issue with the gravity it deserves and working around the clock to protect children.
From the U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia's, press release:
WASHINGTON – Leonidas Varagiannis, also known as “War,” 21, a citizen of the United States residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, also known as “Trippy,” 20, of North Carolina, were arrested and charged for operating an international child exploitation enterprise known as “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) network. Varagiannis was arrested yesterday in Greece; Nepal was arrested on April 22, 2025, in North Carolina and had a court appearance. Court hearings in Washington, D.C. are pending for both defendants.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia of the New York Field Office.
According to the affidavit in the District of Columbia, 764 is a network of nihilistic violent extremists who engage in criminal conduct in the United States and abroad, seeking to destroy civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, which often include minors. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government.
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Sadly, save for a handful of legacy media outlets, these arrests and this scary group have received minimal reporting. So, what is 764, and why should parents be concerned? Patel's description of their aims is absolutely chilling.
WATCH:
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Kash Patel just revealed that the FBI discovered a violent extremist network called "764" that convinces children to mutilate themselves, or worse, take their own life. pic.twitter.com/FpxB8MXMnV
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 17, 2025
“We stopped an individual in the 764 network who wanted to conspire to…
“We stopped an individual in the 764 network who wanted to conspire to kill an adolescent girl. He is now in custody."
Thank GOD that monster was caught. Our country is filled with dangerous scum.
The article Patel references in his X post gives more horrible details of the group's modus operandi. Using online and gaming platforms like X, Roblox, and Discord, members of the group befriend teenagers and coerce them to commit and document sexually-charged and violent behavior: graphic pornography, harming family pets, cutting themselves with sharp objects, and even committing suicide.
The online predators, part of the network known as "764," demand victims send them photos and videos of it all, so the shocking content can be shared with fellow 764 followers or used to extort victims for more. Some of the predators even host "watch parties" for others to watch them torment victims live online, according to authorities.
"We see a lot of bad things, but this is one of the most disturbing things we're seeing," said FBI Assistant Director David Scott, the head of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, which is now leading many of the U.S. government's investigations tied to 764.
Reportedly, there are 250 cases being investigated, with victims as young as nine years old. All 55 FBI field offices are on high alert, looking out for more.
On Tuesday, the Senate also heard from parents whose children had been harmed and committed suicide through the influence of AI platforms. Many of these parents suffered the loss of their child through suicide because of the undue influence of this supposed online tool. The legitimate fears of parents who feel torn between allowing their children to navigate in a technological world while protecting them from online targeting and radicalization are a harsh reality.
Connecticut parents experienced this firsthand when their teenage daughter became entrapped by 764. The mother admitted that she did not see this coming.
"[It's] very scary and frightening," the Connecticut mother of a teen girl caught up in 764 told ABC News.
"It was very difficult to process, because we didn't raise her to engage in that kind of activity," said the mother, speaking on the condition that ABC News not name her or her daughter.
Last year, in classic New England town of Vernon, Connecticut, local police arrested the girl -- a former honor roll student -- for conspiring with a 764 devotee overseas to direct bomb threats at her own community. When police searched her devices, they found pornographic photos of her, photos depicting self-mutilation, and photos of her paying homage to 764.
As Scott described it, one of the main goals of 764 and similar networks is to "sow chaos" and "bring down society."
The platform where Kirk's alleged killer made his confessions is called "Discord," which tells you all you need to know. The other gaming platform in the crosshairs is Roblox. Both platforms are being sued because of their roles in the death or exploitation of children, most recently in California and Missouri. Even without the influence of groups like 764, sowing chaos appears to be occurring on a daily basis through the insidious influence of actors manipulating bytes and bots — all to destroy our children. How do you bring down a society? You destroy its young: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The transgender cult has been in collusion for years to destroy them through mutilating their bodies and minds. Now, we have all forms of nefarious individuals undermining them through screens. The destruction of identity and purpose is the main goal. Therefore, parents are going to need to ramp up awareness even more, along with a laser focus on their children's behaviors, habits, and who they gather with on- and offline, to see whether these influences are building your child's purpose and identity, or working to tear them apart. How that can be done is an excellent discussion for pastors and spiritual leaders, as well as cultural and parenting advocates and influencers to have.
Shortly before his murder, Charlie Kirk had an apt response on why a foundation of religion is a major factor in saving Western civilization.
You have to try to point them toward ultimate purposes and toward getting back to the church, getting back to faith, getting married, having children. That is the type of conservatism that I represent, and I'm trying to paint a picture of virtue, of lifting people up, not just staying angry.
Charlie Kirk ably represented this, and it is part of the reason why he was murdered. So, we must rise and be like Charlie. Wise people are recognizing this and acting accordingly. With groups like 764 and adversarial threats seemingly on every side, we need God's hand and God's help more than ever before.
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