{
  "id": 16212613,
  "title": "NCCIA prevents Karachi girl exposed to dark web group from causing self-harm: official",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/nccia-prevents-karachi-girl-exposed-to-dark-web-group-from-causing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T18:12:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2039285/nccia-prevents-karachi-girl-exposed-to-dark-web-group-from-causing-self-harm-official"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Karachi: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) thwarted a teenage girl from Karachi from inflicting self-harm after becoming influenced by a group active on the dark web, disclosed an official to Dawn on Friday. The agency's intervention came after receiving a tip from a foreign crime investigation agency, which remained unnamed. NCCIA Karachi Additional Director Tariq Nawaz revealed that the agency shared an email with the pertinent user's internet protocol (IP) address, enabling them to trace the influencer. The official further elucidated on the Geo News program 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath' that the NCCIA had been alerted about a dark web group manipulating individuals to carry out violent actions. It was later discovered that the girl had been exposed to this group via social media, where she interacted with them through a messaging application and received tasks, including harming her pet. The NCCIA managed to apprehend her before she could commit self-harm, adding that the devices she used had been seized for further investigation. An official speaking to Dawn mentioned that the girl's parents informed the NCCIA about her deteriorating behavior over the past three to four months, though she remained reluctant to share any details regarding the source of her distress. Nawaz disclosed that an ongoing investigation aimed to uncover other potential victims and perpetrators involved in similar nefarious activities. The NCCIA offered psychological counseling to the girl to assist her in overcoming the trauma. Earlier this month, the NCCIA received another tip from a foreign agency regarding a teenager who had allegedly attempted to poison his father after seeking assistance from AI chatbots, inspired by a crime series on OTT. The suspect, allegedly procured chemical substances from Australia and Islamabad, set up a makeshift lab at his residence, and even used AI tools and online platforms to gather information on poisons and discuss methods to harm his father. Following a tip-off from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, the NCCIA conducted a raid at the suspect's residence and arrested him on September 23.",
  "summary": "KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has prevented a teenage girl in Karachi from causing self-harm after being influenced by a group operating on the dark web, an official told Dawn on Friday. NCCIA Karachi Additional Director Tariq Nawaz said action by the agency was taken after they received a lead from a foreign crime investigation agency, which he did not name. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}