Charges Announced Against Member of Online Cybercriminal Group “Purgatory” for Placing Swatting Calls to Universities; Victims Asked to Contact FBI

United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that charges have been filed against a juvenile[1] following a rash of swatting calls aimed at universities and other institutions in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere in August 2025. A “swatting call” is a hoax call made to emergency services typically reporting an immediate threat to human…

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School shooting in Brazil leaves 2 women dead; 13-year-old student detained

A school shooting Tuesday in Acre state in northern Brazil left two women dead and two others injured, including an underage student, authorities said. The state government said in a statement that a 13-year-old student admitted carrying out the attack at the public school Instituto Sao Jose in Rio Branco, the state capital. The two…

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FBI investigating school swatting calls in Philadelphia region

The FBI is investigating so-called “swatting calls” that targeted elementary and high schools across our region on Monday. The schools spanned from Philadelphia to Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks and Berks counties. Investigators say they do not have any information indicating there was a credible threat, but it was a scare for students and parents. Tricia Steigerwalt,…

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Brown University Gunman Planned Attack for Years, F.B.I. Says

The man who killed two Brown University students and an M.I.T. professor last December plotted the crimes over the course of three years, federal law enforcement officials said Wednesday. The shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, 48, had been socially isolated, making it hard to track his intentions, investigators said in a report released on Wednesday that…

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15-year-old charged with uttering threats linked to Vancouver police investigation

A charge of uttering threats has been laid against a 15-year-old in connection with a Vancouver police investigation into disturbing comments allegedly made about a Vancouver school. Global News has learned someone who knows the teen called the police after seeing extremely concerning text messages. The teen was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and…

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Ex-Duke Health employee charged with threats of mass violence against university

A former Duke Health employee was arrested this weekend for allegedly making threats of mass violence against Duke University. Duke University police issued a warrant for 31-year-old Nathaniel Jerrell’s arrest more than five months ago after he threatened his former coworkers and workplace in online posts in October with “bringing a gun or planting a…

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Turkish police detain 162 people over online posts about school shootings

Turkish police have detained 162 people accused of posting controversial content online about two deadly school shootings that took place this week. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek accused accounts of sharing footage of the incidents, spreading content capable of creating fear and praising crime. At least 16 people were injured in a shooting at a high…

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