Montenegrin police announced the arrest of an Iranian national, wanted by the United States for orchestrating mass hacking attacks that allegedly caused $3.4 billion in damages. The 39-year-old suspect, who possesses both Iranian and Turkish citizenship, was apprehended in the coastal town of Kotor.
Authorities in Montenegro stated the individual is sought by a New York court on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking, and identity theft. According to police, the suspect's activities, beginning in 2013, targeted the infrastructure of the United States, impacting over 150 universities. The illegally obtained data was reportedly used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian universities.
The arrest was made at the request of the U.S. and its Federal Bureau of Investigation. Extradition proceedings will be handled by a court in Podgorica, Montenegro's capital. Montenegro is a NATO member and an ally of the United States.