Australian teen charged with making hoax mass shooting calls to U.S. institutions

Key Highlights

• A number of electronic devices and a firearm were recovered during a search last month of a home in the state of New South Wales, they said.
• Police said the suspect, who cannot be publicly named under Australian law, was being charged with 12 counts of using a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offense and one count of unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm.
• Add NBC News to GoogleInside the alarming trend of 'swatting'04:18The first offense is punishable by up to five years in prison, while the second has a maximum penalty of 14 years. Marshall said that perpetrators of swatting and other crimes, often boys and men ages 11 to 25, are seeking “to achieve status, notoriety and recognition in their online groups.”Jason A.
• Kaplan, assistant director of the FBI’s International Operations Division, said his agency views swatting as a dangerous crime that endangers lives and diverts critical emergency resources.
• “This case demonstrates that anonymity online is an illusion, and we are committed to working with the AFP, our international partners, and private sector partners to identify and hold accountable those who exploit technology to cause harm to communities,” he said. Erika Olson, chargé d’affaires at the U. S.