15yo boy charged over airline bomb hoaxes, cyber-attacks

A teenage boy has been charged with offences relating to cyber-attacks and bomb hoaxes on airlines in the UK and US, it has emerged.

The 15-year-old suspect from Plymouth has been charged with three offences under Section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act.

The attacks are believed to have been carried out on websites in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The youth was charged following an investigation by officers from the regional cybercrime unit.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the alleged offender was charged with two offences under the Criminal Law Act.

“This relates to bomb hoaxes placed with airlines in North America via social media,” a spokesperson for the force said in a statement.

The offences were allegedly committed within the past 12 months, they added.

The youngster has been released on police bail. He will appear before Plymouth Youth Court on December 18.