A 17-year-old from California, believed to be the prolific swatter known as Torswats, has been arrested and is facing four felony counts. Swatting involves making fake emergency calls to 911 in order to prompt an overwhelming police response. In the past year, there has been a surge in swatting attacks, with politicians, judges, and schools being targeted. The arrest of the teenager comes amid this nationwide trend.
Seminole County in Florida, where the teenager is awaiting extradition, experienced two high-profile swatting incidents in the past year. One incident targeted a mosque, while the other targeted a courthouse. The charges against the teenager include making false reports concerning the planting of a bomb or the use of firearms, causing a law enforcement response. All charges are related to acts of terrorism and show prejudice based on race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, or religion.
Private investigator Brad Dennis, who has been assisting in the FBI’s investigation, engaged with someone using the Torswats handle on a peer-to-peer chatting service called Tox in December 2022. By recording his network traffic, he was able to capture the swatter’s IP address and an unknown username. This information was then handed over to the FBI, who used it in subpoenas sent to YouTube and Discord. The arrest of the California teenager is seen as a significant step in stopping the swatting attacks that have been plaguing the country.
Swatting is a dangerous and potentially deadly prank that wastes valuable law enforcement resources. It not only puts innocent lives at risk but also disrupts the functioning of public institutions and causes fear and panic in communities. The arrest of the teenager responsible for the Torswats swatting attacks is a positive development in the fight against this crime. It serves as a warning to other potential swatters that law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing those responsible and will hold them accountable for their actions. Steps must also be taken to educate the public about the consequences of swatting and to strengthen legislation surrounding this offense.
