Hasselt school attack averted after intercepted TikTok messages

A potential attack on a school in Hasselt was averted thanks to the quick action of the school's administration, who discovered a TikTok group where the plot was being discussed. The discovery allowed police to intervene before any harm could occur.

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It is actually truly noteworthy that the administration found those accounts or chat groups, because it shows they have an idea of the world of young people and that something was going on and that they had to intervene.

Lara Schreurs, an assistant professor at KU Leuven's Lab for Media Psychology, noted that the administration's awareness of the online world is commendable. "It is actually truly noteworthy that the administration found those accounts or chat groups, because it shows they have an idea of the world of young people and that something was going on and that they had to intervene," she said. Schreurs stressed that understanding what happens online is as crucial as monitoring playground activities, as the two are interconnected.

However, Schreurs also pointed out that young people are often reluctant to seek help for disturbing online content. They may feel that adults do not understand their online experiences or fear punishment. "Just because they feel that parents and teachers do not understand what that online world means to them, or because they are afraid of being misunderstood or punished if something goes wrong," Schreurs explained.

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It is as important to know what is happening online as what is happening on the playground. These two are inextricably linked.

To address this, Schreurs advises genuine involvement and interest from adults. "You must be genuinely involved and show interest. Try to notice the signals when something might be going on with students and ask about it. Also, try to create a bond of trust so they dare to come to you," she said.

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Just because they feel that parents and teachers do not understand what that online world means to them, or because they are afraid of being misunderstood or punished if something goes wrong.

Deradicalization expert Youcef Naimi from the expertise center Ceapire agreed that building trust is key. "Students can look at monitoring very differently than at an open culture and trust," he noted. Naimi also highlighted the difficulty schools face in determining when to punish and when to engage in dialogue, especially with concerns about freedom of expression. He emphasized the need for sensitization, providing teachers and parents with tools to discuss these issues, as they often hesitate due to a perceived lack of expertise.

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You must be genuinely involved and show interest. Try to notice the signals when something might be going on with students and ask about it. Also, try to create a bond of trust so they dare to come to you.