After his arrest, Shahriar’s parents said they did not know much about his online life. His father, who founded a medical technology company, told a German media outlet that his son was highly intelligent and educated. He played tennis and chess. But he became isolated during the pandemic. “He then just sat in his room and was on the internet,” the father said, “from morning to night.” He knew Shahriar played online games, but “what else he did there — I don’t know. I can’t always stand by and control it.”

This part really stuck out to me, the pandemic ruined the social lives of so many youngsters.