In brief
Prosecutors in the Netherlands have arrested two 17-year-old boys on suspicion of involvement in espionage, purportedly linked to Russian state interference. Reports indicate that one of the teens was observed near important diplomatic locations with a device designed for intercepting Wi-Fi networks. The arrests, which occurred on suspicion of rendering services to a foreign state, highlight concerns over youth involvement in cybercrime and espionage activities. The domestic intelligence agency has refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation.
Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of 'state interference' in the Netherlands, prosecutors say, in a case with reported links to Russian spying.
The pair were allegedly contacted by pro-Russian hackers on the messaging app Telegram, Dutch media reported.
One of the boys allegedly walked past the offices of Europol, Eurojust and the Canadian embassy in The Hague carrying a 'wi-fi sniffer' - a device designed to identify and intercept Wi-Fi networks.
The teenagers appeared before a judge on Thursday, who ordered one boy be remanded in detention and the other on strict home bail conditions until a hearing due to take place in the next two weeks.
One of the boy's fathers told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that police had arrested his son on Monday afternoon while he was doing his homework.
He said police told him that the arrest related to espionage and rendering services to a foreign country, the paper reports.
The teenager was described as being computer savvy and having a fascination for hacking, while holding a part-time job at a supermarket.
The Netherlands' domestic intelligence and security agency declined to comment on the case when approached by the BBC.
