Swatting incident in Hagen: Teenager triggers large-scale police deployment with murder hoax
A false murder emergency call triggered a major police operation in Hagen-Wehringhausen on Sunday evening. A teenager from the Ennepe-Ruhr district is considered the suspected perpetrator.
False murder emergency call in Hagen: teenager identified as suspected swatter
As Google News AT — Crime (de) reports, a fabricated murder emergency call triggered an extensive police deployment in the Wehringhausen district of Hagen on Sunday evening. An initially unknown caller claimed to have killed his father — and also threatened to go after the arriving emergency personnel whilst armed.
Several patrol cars arrived in full protective equipment. Police officers cordoned off several streets in the affected area. After around one and a half hours, it became clear: the alleged crime was entirely fabricated. The man whose telephone number the caller had manipulated was not at the specified location — and his father was in good health.
Investigators have since identified a teenager from the Ennepe-Ruhr district as the suspected perpetrator. He is said to have attracted attention in the past through similar incidents. Police spokesman Tino Schäfer confirmed the investigation against the teenager.
According to Hagen police, the incident was a case of so-called "swatting" — a method in which perpetrators use manipulated telephone numbers to deliberately trigger a large-scale deployment at the address of uninvolved persons. Prominent individuals frequently become victims of such actions.
The teenager is now being investigated for feigning a criminal offence, disturbing the public peace and misuse of emergency calls. If emergency call misuse is proven, the police can bill the perpetrator for the costs incurred — ranging from 50 to 100,000 euros depending on the scope. If the perpetrator cannot pay the fine immediately, the payment obligation nevertheless remains and will be demanded at a later date, such as upon starting employment.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)