PODGORICA, June 28 (BalkanView) – Montenegrin police, in cooperation with the FBI, arrested an Iranian-Turkish citizen wanted by U.S. authorities over alleged cyberattacks on more than 150 universities in the United States, police said.
The 39-year-old suspect, who holds both Iranian and Turkish citizenship, was detained in the coastal town of Kotor.
He is wanted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking and identity theft.
Montenegrin police said the suspect had carried out large-scale cyberattacks against U.S. universities since 2013, causing damage estimated at more than $3.4 billion.
According to police, stolen data and access to compromised university accounts were used for the benefit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and other Iranian entities, including universities.
The case will now be referred to the Higher Court in Podgorica, which is expected to decide on extradition proceedings.
U.S. security agencies have previously warned of increased activity by Iranian-linked hacking groups targeting critical infrastructure and institutions in the United States.