2 Teenagers In The Netherlands Arrested Allegedly Spy Pro-Russian Hackers

PIXABAY'S ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Two teenagers were arrested in the Netherlands earlier this week on suspicion of spying for pro-Russian hackers. The Dutch prosecutor confirmed the two 17-year-olds were arrested on Monday.

"They were arrested on suspicion of interference supported by the government," said a spokesman for the Brechtje prosecutor's office van de Moosdijk.

Further information cannot be provided because the suspects are still minors.

Citing the father of one of the boys, the Dutch daily Telegraaf reported they had been contacted by pro-Russian hackers via Telegram messaging services.

The father told the newspaper the boys were accused of spying because they had been walking in the area of The Hague which houses the European police organization, Europol, and criminal justice cooperation agency Eurojust, as well as many embassies, with devices or applications designed to capture data sent via digital networks.

Eurojust help form and oversee a joint investigation team with Ukraine, member states of the European Union, Europol, and the International Criminal Court investigating Russia's alleged crimes following Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Dutch intelligence agency AIVD declined to comment on the details reported by Telegraaf. A lawyer for one of the suspects did not immediately respond to a request for comment.