Russian Arrested by Czechs’ for U.S.Hacking
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| Russian hacker arrested by Czech police |
Czech Republic officials have arrested a Russian citizen suspected of hacking targets in the United States.
The arrest, announced Tuesday, was the result of collaboration with the FBI and was based on a so-called Interpol red notice. It came just 12 hours after Czech police received information about the suspect, police said.
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The suspect was arrested at a hotel in central Prague and the alleged hacker didn’t resist, Czech police said. Authorities told various news outlets that the suspect was arrested on Oct. 5 but the announcement was delayed for “tactical" reasons.
The Obama administration announced Friday that it believes Russia is behind a series of hacks intended to influence the U.S. election. Russia, however, has denied the charges, with a spokesman for the Russian Embassy calling the accusation “another piece of nonsense!”
The Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman have all been hacked this year.
Czech police said the suspect was traveling in the Czech Republic with his girlfriend and had a luxury car. Upon arrest, the man collapsed and was hospitalized, officials said. Extradition proceedings in Czech courts could see the suspect turned over to face possible charges in the United States.
Authorities haven’t released the suspect's name.
The release of internal DNC emails resulted in the resignation of then-chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, which came ahead of Clinton’s nominating convention in July. Clinton’s campaign has also blamed Russia for a series of leaked emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s personal email account.
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, encouraged espionage earlier this year, inviting Russia in July to hack Clinton’s email. “I will tell you this, Russia: If you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” he said during a news conference in Florida on July 27. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
NOLAN D. MCCASKILL and BENJAMIN CUNNINGHAM
In London, the Ecuador Embassy has taken away the internet connection from Hacker Assange for trying to influence another nation’s political system.
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