Two 17-year-old Dutch boys have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia using hacking devices near sensitive locations in The Hague, including the offices of Europol, Eurojust, and the Canadian embassy. Dutch police (Politie) made the arrests following a tip-off from the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD).
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the teens allegedly used a WiFi sniffer, an electronic device designed to detect and intercept wireless networks, to gather intelligence while walking near secure international buildings. One boy was arrested while finishing his homework at home, with his parents reportedly unaware of his activities.
The suspects are believed to have been recruited via the messaging platform Telegram by pro-Russian hackers. In similar cases across Europe, such as in Germany, minors were reportedly paid by Russian agents to sabotage infrastructure.
A Europol spokesperson confirmed the incident and said that the organization’s infrastructure was not compromised.
One of the teenagers remains in custody, while the other has been released under strict home bail conditions. Their next court hearing is scheduled within the next two weeks.