What is the 764 network, the digital organization that is being investigated after the arrest of a minor in Gipuzkoa?

The764 network , a transnational extremist organization created in the United States and operating mainly on the Internet, aims, according tothe Basque Department of Security, to detect and attract vulnerable minors and young people through psychological manipulation, blackmail and domination techniques.

The name of the organization comes from the first three digits of the postcode in Stephenville, Texas, a town associated with the founder. Over time, what began as a marginal community on the network has evolved into a group with an international presence.

Members use social media, messaging platforms, and digital spaces used by teenagers, such as video game communities, to contact potential victims.

Police investigations in several countries have linked this organization to various criminal practices, including:

In the case under investigation in the Basque Country, the juvenile arrested is charged with the alleged commission of numerous threats against schools, municipalities, libraries, social associations, public institutions and individuals between January and April 2026.

The messages heralded alleged shootings, armed attacks and other violent actions that ultimately failed, caused social alarm and forced the activation of special security devices.

According to the investigation, the young man mentioned in his messages that he was a suspected member of the 764 network and, in some cases, ensured that he would broadcast live the attacks he intended to carry out.

The investigations also detected the use of techniques known as swatting (false warnings leading to police interventions), doxing (unauthorized disclosure of personal data) and identity impersonation.

These practices aim to point the finger at third parties, create situations of danger and hinder police investigations. At least two people, one in the Basque Country and the other in Catalonia, have been victims of harassment campaigns related to these events.

According to researchers, 764 members enter digital sites where minors are in a vulnerable situation, where detection usually begins with friendly relationships or community membership, and then evolves into control, isolation, and blackmail dynamics.

The practices investigated include the promotion of self-harm and the commission of humiliating acts, which would then be deployed to the community as a mechanism for exerting pressure on victims.

The arrest of the 17-year-old was the result of a joint investigation for months between the Ertzaintza, the Mossos d'Espadra and the Civil Guard.

On 16 July, two homes in Gipuzkoa linked to the investigator were searched and electronic devices, digital media and documentation related to the activity attributed to the detainee and the organization were seized.

After being taken into custody, the minor was transferred to a specialized facility as a preventive measure.

The Department of Safety and Security recommends that families, schools and minors maintain a preventive attitude to suspicious Internet contacts. 

The authorities have recalled that early detection and communication with family members, schools or security forces are key to preventing such communities from attracting minors.