SYDNEY — A teenage boy from regional Australia has been charged with calling in false reports of mass shootings at US retailers and educational institutions that allegedly caused widespread alarm, police said on Tuesday (Jan 13).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 US retail and educational institutions.The boy was also charged with one count of unauthorised possession of a prohibited firearm.
Wednesday 18 February 2026
asiaone - 1 month ago
Australian teen charged with making hoax mass shooting calls in the US
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