August 30, 2024 at 04:42AM
Two European men carried out a plot to intimidate and threaten numerous people, including a former U.S. president and members of Congress, by making false police emergency reports at their homes. The targeted individuals included public officials, prominent figures, and private citizens. The defendants are charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of making threats.
The meeting notes highlight a disturbing case of swatting orchestrated by two European men, Thomasz Szabo and Nemanja Radovanovic, who targeted approximately 100 individuals with false police emergency calls meant to provoke aggressive police responses at the victims’ homes. Their targets included public officials, family members of public officials, and prominent individuals. The indictment alleges that the defendants made false reports of killings, mass shootings, and other threats, as well as claimed to be acting at the direction of a juvenile who provided them with victims’ addresses. The swatting calls resulted in significant emotional trauma, wasted police resources, and even led to a car crash involving injuries. Both defendants have been charged with conspiracy and more than two dozen counts of making threats, with the plot spanning over three years. The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia emphasized that swatting is not a victimless prank and endangers real people. The affected individuals, including public officials, expressed relief upon learning that the suspects had been identified and emphasized the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable.