Extremist Group Targeting Kids Topic Of Avon Forum

AVON, CT — State lawmakers and public safety officials will host a community forum on Monday, June 1, focused on violent extremism, online safety and the risks posed by an online extremist network known as "764."

The free event, titled "Understanding Violent Extremism and Its Impact on Our Community," will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at Avon High School, 510 West Avon Road.

The forum is being organized by state Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, state Rep. Tammy Exum, D-West Hartford, state Sen. Paul Honig, D-Harwinton, and Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

According to event organizers, recent law enforcement investigations have identified the online extremist group 764 as being linked to the exploitation of children, false emergency calls and acts of extreme violence, including school-related threats and attacks.

Organizers said incidents connected to the group are often coordinated through online spaces that target vulnerable young people, encourage self-harm and promote violence.

The presentation will feature Evan Allard, director of the Connecticut Intelligence Center, and Trooper First Class James White.

The two officials are expected to discuss the history of the 764 network, how it operates online, warning signs parents and caregivers should recognize, and steps families can take to help protect children and teenagers on the internet.

Officials said the forum will also examine how young people can be drawn into harmful online communities and provide guidance for parents seeking to identify potential risks.

The event is open to parents, caregivers and other interested residents.

Organizers said the forum is not intended for children.

The "764" group is a decentralized, transnational network of violent online extremists that the FBI classifies as a Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) threat.

Members target and groom vulnerable children and teens on social media, gaming apps, and messaging platforms to extort them into producing explicit content and committing acts of self-harm, animal abuse, and violence.

The name "764" originates from the first three digits of the ZIP codes for Stephenville, Texas, where the network was initially founded.

For more information on the dangers of the '764' group, click on this link.