SYDNEY, Jan 13 (Reuters) – A teenage boy from regional Australia has been charged with calling in false reports of mass shootings at U.S. retailers and educational institutions that allegedly caused widespread alarm, police said on Tuesday.
The Australian Federal Police said their investigation began after receiving FBI intelligence about an Australian-based member of an online crime network suspected of being linked to major “swatting” hoax calls.
Police executed a search warrant at the boy’s home in regional New South Wales state last month, seizing a number of electronic devices and a prohibited firearm.
They charged him with 12 counts of telecommunications offences, alleging the boy made multiple hoax calls to emergency services falsely claiming mass shootings were taking place at U.S. retail and educational institutions.
The boy was also charged with one count of unauthorised possession of a prohibited firearm.
“In this investigation, a young boy from regional NSW allegedly caused widespread alarm and turmoil to thousands of people, businesses and services in the United States, resulting in significant financial implications,” said Graeme Marshall, AFP acting assistant commissioner.
Marshall said such crimes were often perpetrated by young males aged 11-25 to achieve status, notoriety and recognition in their online groups.
FBI International Operations Division Assistant Director Jason Kaplan said swatting was a dangerous and disruptive crime that endangered lives and drained critical emergency resources.
“This case demonstrates that anonymity online is an illusion, and we are committed to working with the AFP, our international partners, and private sector partners to identify and hold accountable those who exploit technology to cause harm to communities,” he said.
The boy was investigated through AFP’s Taskforce Pompilid, launched in October last year to target members of decentralised crime networks.
(Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry)
