National News

Suspect held over mystery cyberthreats

The baffled Metropolitan Police Department's hunt for an elusive cyber-riddler made progress Feb. 10 after a Tokyo man was arrested on suspicion of making anonymous online threats last year by remotely manipulating other people's computers.

Yusuke Katayama, a 30-year-old resident of Koto Ward, was arrested but denied any wrongdoing, the police said. He has been charged with forcible obstruction of business for allegedly posting a threat online last August stating that mass murder would take place at a comic book event, forcing security to be tightened.

The case, which also involves cyberthreats against a kindergarten, resulted in the wrongful arrests of four people from July to September whose computers were infected by a virus used to send the messages.

Police suspect Katayama used the PCs to send more than 10 threats last year, either by posting them online or via email. (Kyodo News)

Shukan ST: FEBRUARY 22, 2013

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