In the United States, a dangerous practice known as “swatting” is becoming increasingly prevalent. Swatting involves making false calls to the police in order to provoke a strict response against an innocent person. This barbaric practice has already led to tragic incidents, including deaths. However, the arrest of a 17-year-old teenager, known as Torswats, who made hundreds of these calls, may bring an end to this dangerous trend.
Imagine the scenario – you are at home with your family, enjoying a movie or reading your favorite book, when suddenly your house is surrounded by police cars and a SWAT team in body armor is storming your property. You are frozen in shock as flashbang grenades are thrown into your rooms.
All of this occurs simply because someone on the internet has a grudge against you.
Torswats was apprehended in January in California for making hundreds of similar calls. His targets included mosques, courts, and other large public locations. These calls contained false information about bombs and shootings.
The teenage suspect had previously bragged that he would never be caught, but he could not escape punishment. However, shortly after the arrest, activity on his Telegram account resumed. It seems that someone else has taken on the role of the “Brothers of the Board.” In a separate channel, an unknown user writes, “It seems that for a few dollars a month, you can do crazy things and remain unpunished.”
The number of swatting incidents has recently seen a significant increase. On Christmas alone, politicians and individuals associated with the Trump case became targets. Since May of the previous year, the FBI has been maintaining a database to document these calls, with 129 cases reported so far.
Swatting is a serious offense in the United States with perpetrators facing potential prison time. Some defendants have received sentences of 11 years, while others have received less than 10. However, there are currently no clear and unequivocal laws regarding this crime. Senator Rick Scott has proposed increasing the maximum sentence to 20 years, but no definitive definition of swatting has yet been provided. Typically, the actions of perpetrators are classified under various sections of the law, such as false calls, terrorism, or harassment.
The first recorded death resulting from a swatting incident occurred in California in 2017, with the perpetrator receiving a 20-year prison term. Several similar cases have occurred since then. In one instance, a SWAT team attacked a house based on a false report of a hostage situation, resulting in the death of an elderly woman from a heart