AP exclusive reporting revealed an alarming rise in underage terrorist suspects, radicalized online
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John Leicester’s investigative reporting uncovered a disturbing international trend: a growing number of underage terrorist suspects who are being radicalized online—often through video games and explicit content.
The story began when a French counterterrorism prosecutor gave a speech raising concerns about the unusually young ages of some suspects. Leicester dug deeper to determine whether this was an isolated issue or part of a wider pattern.
Over several months, he built trust with European counterterrorism officials, securing rare interviews and access to sensitive data that revealed the problem stretched well beyond France.
Leicester illustrated the scope of the crisis through the story of a 12-year-old boy whose mother believed he was simply gaming online. In reality, he had been consuming violent extremist content so severe it led to a terrorism conviction.
With officials unwilling to appear on camera and legal restrictions around photographing minors, AP turned to illustration. Peter Hamlin created a powerful and sensitive image of a young boy at a computer, visually capturing the emotional and psychological weight of the reporting.
The story offered an urgent look at a new frontier in online radicalization and the hidden spaces where it’s taking root.
Content retrieved from: https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/best-of-the-week/honorable-mention/2025/ap-exclusive-reporting-revealed-an-alarming-rise-in-underage-terrorist-suspects-radicalized-online/.
