Brutal attack in Mamer: Young people hunt alleged pedophiles!

Brutal attack in Mamer: Young people hunt alleged pedophiles!

On May 26, 2025, a 19-year-old man was the victim of a brutal attack in Mamer, Luxembourg. This incident, classified as “pedo-hunting,” highlights frightening developments in the region. Interior Minister Léon Gloden confirmed in the Chamber that this is a case that is not isolated - there is already another incident from the summer of 2024.

According to initial investigations, the victim had arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl via social media. At the agreed meeting point, the young man was attacked by about a dozen masked people who tied him up, stripped him and threatened him. In this context, his cell phone and car were stolen, which illustrates the brutality and intention behind the attack. The Interior Minister also reported that the police were able to identify the 13-year-old and her brother; the latter was arrested and is now in custody. In addition, three other underage accomplices have voluntarily turned themselves in to the police, which is driving the investigation forward.

Development and background of the “pedo-hunting” phenomenon

“Paedo-hunting” is a concept that has become increasingly important in Europe and the USA in recent years. Gloden explained that this movement has its origins in Russia, where the group “Occupy Pedophilia” was founded in 2011 by a Russian neo-Nazi. The aim of this group is to punish alleged pedophilia. The perpetrators often pose as underage girls in order to lure adult men to a meeting. These men are then often ambushed and attacked by groups, mostly young men.

Not only are the incidents horrifying, but they are often filmed and posted online to expose the victims and promote the neo-Nazi movement. A typical identifying sign of this movement is a closed hand with a thumb bent upwards.

Right-wing extremist connections in Luxembourg

Current reports show that groups such as the “National Sozialistech Jugend Lëtzebuerg” are active in Luxembourg. These self-proclaimed “pedophile hunters” attracted attention in 2024 for their right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic statements in Telegram chats. One channel in this group had over 100 followers and it was documented that in at least one case they successfully lured a suspected perpetrator into a trap.

The Luxembourg judiciary has already taken action to take action against the masterminds of this group, who have been taken into custody. There were also house searches in Luxembourg and France in order to expose the network and prosecute it. In view of this worrying development, Interior Minister Gloden emphasizes the need to intensively address this threatening problem.

The events in Mamer cast a shadow over security and the handling of the issue in the region, where humiliation and public shaming by such extreme groups are increasing at an alarming rate. Society is faced with the challenge of finding an effective way to deal with these criminal phenomena.

The explosiveness of the issue was loudly discussed not only in the local media, but also on social networks, which could effectively stimulate the discussion about protecting young people and combating extremism. The investigation into both cases of “pedo-hunting” incidents in Luxembourg is ongoing and shows that further steps are necessary to prevent future attacks.

For more detailed information about this incident and the ongoing investigation, read the articles from People's friend and Daily newspaper.