Hungarian Suspect Linked to Tiverton Swatting Hoax

BOSTON (WBSM) — The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that a 20-year-old man in Hungary has been arrested in connection with a swatting incident that occurred in Tiverton, Rhode Island two years ago.

The FBI announced that the individual, who hails from Nógrád County in northern Hungary, was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NNI) for misleading authorities about the incident.

The FBI did not release the suspect’s name.

What Happened During the Tiverton Swatting Incident?

On April 24, 2024, Tiverton Police received a call claiming a man had killed his family and was going to shoot his dog and himself. Police arrived at the location that was given but then determined it to be an incident of “swatting.”

What Is Swatting and Why Is It Dangerous?

“Swatting is a criminal activity by an individual (or group) who knowingly provides false information about a possible threat to life to elicit an emergency response to an ongoing critical incident,” the FBI said in a release. “Incidents typically result in the deployment of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, bomb squads, and other police units, as well as the evacuations of schools, businesses, and residences.”

How the FBI Tracked the Suspect to Hungary

The investigation led agents of the FBI’s Boston Division, working with Tiverton Police, to contact the FBI’s Law Enforcement Attache in Budapest for assistance.

“As a result of our strong international partnerships, the Transatlantic Department of the NNI located and arrested this man after reviewing digital evidence allegedly connecting him to this hoax call,” the FBI stated.

“According to Hungarian authorities the individual admitted to the alleged crime during questioning. He’s been released from custody and is currently defending himself as this case proceeds through the judicial system in Hungary,” the FBI said.

Citing the ongoing investigation, the FBI said no further information will be released at this time.

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