Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the process of radicalization, with particular focus on its online dimension. The subject of the case study is a young man of dual Bulgarian and Australian citizenship. The aim is to analyse his life trajectory, the decisions he made, and the individuals who influenced him, in order to identify the key factors that played a decisive role in his radicalization. The study draws primarily on information pertaining to his period in Bulgaria, supplemented by interrogation records and interviews conducted by operational officers, psychologists, and investigative journalists. The study applies a qualitative case-study methodology grounded in contemporary theories of radicalization, including Moghaddam’s staircase model and the quest for significance framework. It explores the interplay between family dynamics, identity crisis, psychosocial vulnerability, and digital recruitment mechanisms. The findings demonstrate that radicalization is a non-linear, reversible, and socially embedded process rather than an isolated ideological transformation. The case contributes to the limited Bulgarian academic literature on terrorism and offers practical implications for early prevention, online monitoring, and rehabilitation policies at both national and international levels.</jats:p>