George Duke-Cohan was arrested inwards his bedchamber at his theater unit of measurement abode inwards Watford yesteryear British National Crime Agency (NCA) on 31st August in addition to pledged guilty to 3 counts of making bomb threats to schools in addition to airlines inwards Luton Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Duke-Cohan spammed out to a greater extent than than 24,000 emails to schools across the Great Britain in addition to inwards the US every bit well, claiming that pipage bombs had been planted on the premises, which would blow upward the edifice if $5,000 extortion coin was non made inside 3 hours.
He Got Arrested Third-Time For Making Hoax Bomb Threats
This is non the starting fourth dimension time Duke-Cohan has been arrested for spreading faux bomb threats.
He starting fourth dimension created panic inwards March this yr when he emailed thousands of schools inwards the Great Britain alert most an explosive, which resulted inwards 400 schools across the province beingness evacuated.
Duke-Cohan was in addition to thus arrested inwards Apr for the starting fourth dimension time. However, piece nether investigation, he sent to a greater extent than or less other batch of hoax emails (24,000 emails inwards total) to schools inwards the U.S. of A. of America in addition to the UK, claiming that pipage bombs had been planted on the premises.
Duke-Cohan was arrested for the mo fourth dimension for making farther hoax bomb threats. He was in addition to thus released on bail nether the status he did non role whatever electronic device.
However, piece on bail for the ii previous offenses, Duke-Cohan posing every bit a concerned manlike somebody bring upward phoned San Francisco Airport in addition to their police line officers, claiming that his immature adult woman told him her flying was hijacked yesteryear gunmen, ane of whom has a bomb.
The plane, United Airlines Flight 949 betwixt the Great Britain in addition to San Francisco, was in addition to thus forced to quarantined in addition to extensively searched, which led to disruption to all 295 passengers journeys in addition to fiscal loss to the airline.
Duke-Cohan was arrested for the 3rd fourth dimension at his abode inwards Watford, Hertfordshire, on 31 August in addition to flora to endure inwards possession of multiple electronic devices, despite the restrictions inwards place.
He Is Also Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Key Member of 'Apophis Squad' Criminal Group
At the fourth dimension of Duke-Cohan's 3rd hoax, a Hacker grouping calling itself Apophis Squad claimed flying UA949 was grounded due to their actions inwards a post on Twitter on August 9.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 spider web log post published today yesteryear ProtonMail besides confirms that Duke-Cohan was a telephone substitution fellow member of Apophis Squad, the same criminal grouping which was besides involved inwards cyberattacks against ProtonMail, which remained nether laid upward on through much of August.
ProtonMail strongly states that the service is committed to privacy, security, in addition to liberty of information, but the same does non apply to people who are engaged inwards criminal activities, in addition to "will actively pursue all those who seek to terms ProtonMail in addition to convey them to justice."
"To fulfill this commitment, nosotros are willing to commit all necessary financial, legal, in addition to technical resources," the companionship states.
While investigating the attacks against its secure mailing service, ProtonMail discovered that to a greater extent than or less members of Apophis Squad were besides ProtonMail users, which was confirmed when a issue of law enforcement agencies submitted MLAT requests, asking the companionship to "render assistance to the extent that is possible given ProtonMail encryption."
"What nosotros found, combined alongside intelligence provided yesteryear a trusted source, allowed us to conclusively position Duke-Cohan every bit a fellow member of Apophis Squad inwards the starting fourth dimension calendar week of August, in addition to nosotros promptly informed law enforcement," ProtonMail says.However, the British police line did non instantly arrest Duke-Cohan until his 3rd hoax involving United Airlines Flight 949, making it necessary for British police line to get got activity in addition to detain Duke-Cohan.
On Monday, Duke-Cohan pleaded guilty inwards a Great Britain courtroom to 3 counts of making bomb threats to schools in addition to airlines, in addition to ProtonMail besides believes he could peradventure endure extradited to the US to expression upward charges.
Duke-Cohan has been remanded inwards custody in addition to volition endure sentenced at Luton Crown Court on September 21.
Meanwhile, ProtonMail said several other hackers who were behind DDoS attacks against its service were besides identified in addition to the regime are working together to prosecute them.
