A growing wave of organised crime in Europe has seen teenagers recruited to carry out violent attacks, with criminal networks using young people as hired attackers.

In one case in a Stockholm suburb, an 18-year-old gunman approached 20-year-old Murad Abdelkader as he returned home from work and carried out a fatal shooting.

The attacker, identified as Atilla Azimov, had been paid to carry out the killing. However, investigators later found that he had targeted the wrong person.

Authorities say the attack was linked to the Foxtrot Network, a criminal organisation accused of using so-called “violence-as-a-service” (VaaS) tactics, where individuals are hired to carry out crimes on behalf of larger networks.

Why Are Teenagers Being Recruited?

Law enforcement agencies across Europe have raised concerns that criminal groups are deliberately targeting teenagers because they are easier to recruit, influence, and replace.

Young recruits may be attracted by promises of money, status, or protection, while criminal organisations use them to distance senior members from direct involvement in violent crimes.

A Growing Challenge for European Authorities

The use of teenage contract killers has become a major concern for police forces in several European countries. Investigators say online platforms and encrypted communication services have made it easier for criminal groups to recruit and coordinate young attackers.

Authorities are now focusing on disrupting recruitment networks, preventing youth involvement in organised crime, and providing support for vulnerable young people who may be targeted by gangs.

The rise of teenage hitmen highlights a wider challenge facing Europe: how organised crime groups are adapting their methods and exploiting younger generations to carry out increasingly serious violence.