Lethbridge teenager charged with terrorism, child sexual abuse

A teenager from Lethbridge has been arrested and is facing charges relating to terrorism, child sexual abuse and animal cruelty.

The RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) arrested the 17-year-old on September 3^rd after investigating the teen’s use on the chat app, Discord. RCMP received a referral from the Lethbridge Police Service in this case.

The youth was reportedly involved with an online group known as the 764 network which the RCMP describes as a transnational online ecosystem of violent online predators who routinely lure youth and encourage them to commit child sexual abuse and exploitation, self-harm, and the torture of animals. Elements of the 764 network are known to have extreme ideological views and are victimizing children through desensitizing and radicalizing them to violence. The Canadian government listed the network as a terrorist entity in December, 2025.

The youth, who cannot be named under conditions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested and charged with:

• Participation in activity of terrorist group contrary to section 83.18(1) of the Criminal Code;
• Facilitating terrorist activity contrary to section 83.19(1) of the Criminal Code; and,
• Commission of offence for terrorist group contrary to section 83.2 of the Criminal Code; and,
• Distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material contrary to section 163.1 (3) of the Criminal Code;
• Possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material contrary to section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code; and,
• Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal contrary to section 445.1(1) of the Criminal Code.

The youth is scheduled to appear in court on October 14th at the Lethbridge Alberta Court of Justice.