Two European nationals are accused of orchestrating a dangerous “swatting” campaign that targeted U.S. officials, including Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The pair allegedly used hoax emergency calls to provoke armed law enforcement responses to the homes of high-profile individuals.
The suspects, Thomasz Szabo, 26, of Romania, and Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia, are believed to have conducted around 100 swatting attacks. Their victims included members of Congress, senior federal law enforcement officials, and even a former U.S. president.
Their efforts came to light last week when a federal indictment unsealed charges against the two men, accusing them of conspiracy and over two dozen counts of making threats. These threats spanned a period of more than three years, with the indictment highlighting the dangers posed by their actions.
The Attack on Jen Easterly
In one of the most high-profile incidents, Easterly was targeted at her home in Arlington County, Virginia, on December 30, 2022. A false 911 call claimed that a shooting had occurred on her block, leading police to respond with urgency. Fortunately, the call was quickly identified as a hoax, but the emotional impact and potential danger were real.
In a statement, Easterly acknowledged the severity of the situation:
“While my own experience was certainly harrowing, it was unfortunately not unique. In particular, several of our nation’s election officials have also been targeted with this type of harassment and other threats of violence.”
The swatting campaign against Easterly was part of a coordinated series of attacks. On the same date, almost 20 separate hoax calls were made, according to the recently unsealed indictment. While Easterly’s name was not directly mentioned in the documents, sources confirmed her involvement in the case.
Swatting as a Dangerous Crime
Swatting—making false emergency calls to provoke a police response—has serious implications. It’s far from a harmless prank, as it diverts law enforcement resources, puts innocent people in danger, and leaves lasting emotional scars on the victims.
Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, made it clear that law enforcement will pursue these perpetrators no matter their location:
“Swatting is not a victimless prank — it endangers real people, wastes precious police resources, and inflicts significant emotional trauma. We will use every tool at our disposal to find the perpetrators and hold them accountable, no matter where they might be.”
The investigation highlights the need for continued vigilance in combating such crimes, particularly as they target individuals responsible for national security and governance.
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May God have control in everything
Agreed! 😎