Netherlands Arrests 15 Suspects Over Islamic State Propaganda on TikTok

Fifteen people were arrested across the Netherlands for allegedly spreading Islamic State propaganda on TikTok. Authorities say the suspects used the platform to incite terrorist activities, promote the group, and glorify martyrdom, with some posts receiving over 100,000 views. The suspects, aged 16 to 53, include Syrian and Dutch nationals, among them minors. Police say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests may follow.

Fifteen individuals suspected of spreading Islamic State (IS) propaganda on TikTok were arrested on Tuesday during coordinated police raids carried out across several parts of the Netherlands. Dutch authorities said the operation was part of a broader effort to curb the online spread of extremist content and prevent the radicalization of social media users.
According to the Dutch public prosecution office, the suspects used TikTok to actively promote Islamic State ideology with the intention of encouraging others to commit terrorist crimes. Prosecutors explained that the propaganda included messages urging people to join the Islamist extremist group, while also praising and glorifying the concept of so-called “martyrdom.” Authorities warned that such content is designed to manipulate vulnerable audiences and normalize violent extremism.
Investigators revealed that some of the posts shared through the TikTok account attracted significant attention, with individual videos receiving more than 100,000 views. Officials said the high number of views increased concerns about the reach and potential impact of the propaganda, particularly among young users of the platform.
The arrests followed a nationwide investigation launched after police identified a TikTok account that was circulating IS propaganda videos with Dutch subtitles. Authorities believe the use of local language subtitles made the content more accessible and appealing to viewers within the Netherlands, thereby increasing the risk of radicalization.
Prosecutors emphasized that glorifying and spreading terrorist propaganda poses a serious threat to public safety and social cohesion. They reiterated that publishing or disseminating Islamic State material is a criminal offence under Dutch law and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Police said the suspects range in age from 16 to 53 years old. They are accused of offences including incitement to commit terrorist acts, the dissemination of ISIS propaganda, and in some cases, participation in a terrorist organization. Of those arrested, 13 are Syrian nationals, while three hold Dutch citizenship. Authorities also confirmed that four of the suspects are minors, highlighting growing concerns about youth involvement in online extremist activities.
In addition to the arrests made on Tuesday, investigators confirmed that another individual had already been detained in January in connection with the same case. This person was described by authorities as the main suspect and is believed to have played a central role in managing or coordinating the distribution of the propaganda.
Prosecutors stated that investigations into the network behind the TikTok posts are still ongoing. They added that further arrests remain possible as authorities continue to analyze digital evidence and identify additional individuals who may be linked to the spread of the extremist content.