Scottish Schoolboy Arrested After FBI Hack

Federal agents reportedly travelled to Scotland to observe the arrest of a 15-year-old schoolboy in Glasgow over the hack of an FBI system.

The unnamed teenager was arrested on Tuesday and his home was searched by Police Scotland.

Teenager Arrested

FBI agents apparently sat in as Police Scotland officers interviewed the boy, who could face extradition to the United States and a possible prison sentence.

“The boy is believed to have hacked into the FBI’s computer systems,” a source was quoted as saying by the Daily Record.

“Agents then travelled to Scotland to sit in on him being questioned by detectives. He could be extradited to the US where he would face a long jail term.”

Not much is known about the youth, but a source did say that he comes from “a respectable family.”

TechweekEurope spoke to Police Scotland, but it refused to confirm the presence or involvement of the FBI in the case.

“Following a search of a property in the Glasgow area on Tuesday 16 February, a 15-year-old male was arrested in connection with alleged offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990,” said Police Scotland in an emailed statement.

“He has since been released from custody and is subject of a report to the PF (procurator fiscal),” said the police.

Deportation Wrangles

If the youngster is formally charged with the FBI hack, he may face extradition to the United States.

The case potentially mirrors the attempt by US authorities to extradite another British hacker Gary McKinnon, who was accused of hacking into 97 US government computers in 2001, including ones belonging to NASA.

McKinnon claimed he suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome, and used the defence that he was looking for evidence of extraterrestrial life.

After a protracted legal battle, he narrowly avoided deportation to the United States.

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