Three men have been charged in relation to a series of hoax emergency calls made to law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada, an activity commonly referred to as "swatting." The individuals involved are Liam White, 23, from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset; Dylan Ash, 18, from Warrington, Cheshire; and Keiron Ellison, 18, from St Helens, Merseyside.

Liam White and Dylan Ash are each facing three counts of conspiring together and with others to commit acts intended to pervert the course of justice. Keiron Ellison has been charged with two counts of the same offence. All three men are scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The charges follow an extensive investigation led by Merseyside Police in coordination with US law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Detective Sergeant Steve Frame of Merseyside Police commented on the case, stating: "The charges are the culmination of an extensive investigation by Merseyside Police working with US law enforcement, including the FBI."

According to Detective Sergeant Frame, the offences are connected to the activities of an internet-based group operating between October 2022 and April 2023. This group is alleged to have planned, advertised, and executed calls to emergency services and high-profile internet personalities, reporting fabricated, serious life-threatening incidents such as "active shooter threats." These false reports are designed to provoke urgent emergency responses from law enforcement agencies.

Swatting, the term used to describe these actions, is regarded as a serious criminal activity due to the potential risks it poses to both those targeted and responding officers. It involves making false reports to emergency services with the intention of dispatching a large law enforcement or tactical response to an unsuspecting victim's location.

The Irish News (Belfast) is reporting on the incident, highlighting the cross-border cooperation that was essential in bringing charges in this case, reflecting the growing challenges posed by internet-facilitated crimes that transcend national boundaries.

Source: Noah Wire Services