European police are probing whether the Islamic State terror group and other extremists are setting up a social network to spread propaganda, gain funding and avoid security crackdowns.<br/><br/>An official said, the investigation comes as Europe's policing agency struck out at online radical groups last week in a two-day operation. Together with officers from Belgium, Greece, Poland, Portugal and the United States, Europol assessed more than 2,000 pieces of online content last Tuesday and Wednesday as harmful and illegal and referred them to online service providers for removal.<br/><br/>Europol said this coordinated hit against online terrorist propaganda focused mainly on the online production of terrorist materials by IS and Al-Qaeda affiliated media outlets. Among the items referred were propaganda videos and publications glorifying or supporting terrorism and extremism.<br/><br/>Europol added that efforts made by numerous online platforms to remove inappropriate content have driven supporters of terrorist groups to simultaneously use multiple platforms to promote terrorism and incite violence. They have also been searching for new service providers to make sure their messages reach potential supporters, while a growing interest for platforms that do not require identification can be witnessed.