Belgium: Pittsburgh Youth Linked To Cyberattack On Brussels Airport

[mountaineer]

Belgium: Pittsburgh Youth Linked To Cyberattack On Brussels Airport
February 9, 2017 8:57 AM
KDKA

BRUSSELS (AP) – Belgian authorities say that a U.S. youth in Pittsburgh tried to hack into the Brussels airport computer system and disable it the night after the March 22 attacks that killed 32 people.

The federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement Thursday that at its request, the FBI interrogated the American minor and said he confessed. The statement said the hacking attempt was unsuccessful and stressed that “it appeared there were no terrorist motives.”

Belgian authorities have been on high alert since suicide bombers attacked the Brussels airport and subway system last March 22.

[geronl]

Something to be concerned about if Belgium were a real country

[mountaineer]

I've been there. Even flown into the Brussels airport. It's a real country.

US child hacker confesses to launching cyber attack on Brussels Airport hours after Isis attacks
FBI traces hack to minor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but finds no 'terrorist motive'
    Lizzie Dearden
    Thursday 9 February 2017 11:55 GMT

An American child has admitted launching a cyber attack targeting Brussels Airport in the wake of Isis suicide bombings that killed more than 30 people.

The Belgian federal public prosecutor’s office said the suspect aimed to take down the Brussels Airport Company website and “infiltrate the computer system” on the night of 22 March 2016 but was unsuccessful.

Investigators traced the source of the hack to a property in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and handed the information to US authorities.

“The FBI proceeded to conduct house search in Pittsburgh…and interrogated a minor of American nationality,” a spokesperson said. “He confessed.”

Preliminary interviews and searches of seized computers and other evidence have shown no indication of a “terrorist motive” or Isis links, prosecutors said.

“The Belgian federal public prosecutor’s office therefore wants to emphasise that this case has nothing whatsoever to do with that of the terrorist attacks on 22 March 2016 in Brussels,” a spokesperson added.

No further information was released on the suspect or his possible motivation.   ...

Rest of story at the Independent (U.K.).

[mountaineer]

Geez, a 14-year-old?!?

US teen, 14, admits hacking attack on Brussels airport hours after ISIS terror attack which killed 32 people

    The 14-year-old boy from Pittsburgh hacked Zaventem Airport's computer
    He made the attempt hours after an ISIS terror cell struck on March 22, 2016
    Belgian authorities traced the attempt to the United States and called the FBI
    The FBI said the boy admitted the attempt and was not a supporter of ISIS

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline
Published: 07:22 EST, 9 February 2017 | Updated: 11:01 EST, 9 February 2017

   
Belgian investigators have traced a cyberattack targeting Brussels airport hours after last year's ISIS suicide bombings to a teenager in the United States who had no terror links, prosecutors said today.

FBI agents questioned a 14-year-old boy from Pittsburgh, who admitted trying to hack Zaventem airport's website and computer system in March 2016, they said.

In a statement, Belgium officials said: 'Within the framework of this investigation, the FBI proceeded to a house search in Pittsburgh upon a request for legal assistance from the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, and interrogated a minor of American nationality. ...

Read more: Daily Mail (U.K.)

[geronl]

I've been there. Even flown into the Brussels airport. It's a real country

I was channeling Garfield (Wyoming does not exist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=56uSDQECrRQ

[TomSea]

Tell the Congo, Belgium and its King Leopold were not real.

[mountaineer]

I was channeling Garfield (Wyoming does not exist)

Sorry,  I wasn't familiar with the reference.