Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP)’s counterterrorism unit Densus 88 have identified 70 minors involved in online “true crime community” groups containing violent content, raising concerns over youth exposure to extremism and digital harm, authorities said on Wednesday.

“These children are spread across 19 provinces, with the highest numbers in Jakarta, West Java, and East Java,” Densus 88 spokesperson Senior Superintendent. Mayndra Eka Wardhana told a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/1/2026), as reported by antaranews.com

The children, aged between 11 and 18 and mostly around 15 years old, were found to have joined loosely organized online groups that glorify violence through digital platforms.

Investigators found key risk factors such as bullying, family problems, excessive gadget use, and repeated exposure to violent and pornographic content.

Chief Mayndra warned of key signs of exposure to extremism, including idolizing violent perpetrators, social withdrawal, imitating figures from online groups, consuming sadistic content, reacting angrily when devices are checked, and carrying replica weapons or knives, sometimes to school.

He said that 67 of the minors have undergone intervention measures, including assessment, mapping, and counseling, in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)