Polish cybercrime officers arrest suspects in nationwide bomb hoax campaign

Poland’s Central Bureau for Countering Cybercrime (CBZC) said on Monday it had arrested seven men suspected of sending more than 380 false bomb threats and threatening messages to over 1,500 institutions, prompting the evacuation of nearly 12,000 people.

Polish cybercrime officers detained a group accoused of sending hundreds of false bomb threats that triggered nationwide evacuations an may be tied to thousands more hoax alerts.

Photo courtesy of Poland's Central Bureau for Countering Cybercrime (CBZC)

The suspects face multiple charges, including participation in organized crime, making false threats, harassment, falsifying evidence, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Authorities said the criminal activities affected hospitals, schools, police units, and government offices, and in some cases caused material losses for innocent individuals due to emergency interventions.

Investigators said the men may be responsible for far more incidents than those already documented.

Police are also examining whether foreign intelligence services influenced or inspired the campaign.

The main suspect is a 21-year-old man, who committed some offences as a minor.

Investigations revealed that the perpetrators used spoofing and other tactics to target victims and recruited minors through online gaming platforms to assist in sending the hoax alerts.

Officials warned that the campaign could have endangered lives and severely disrupted public services.

(mp)

Source: CBZC