Unidentified callers phoning false threats of violence to 911 have launched massive police raids in recent months at the homes of high-profile political figures and state Capitol buildings, including last week in Annapolis.
This dangerous hoax, known as “swatting,” aims to attract a heavily armed police presence – often SWAT teams – to a specific location to intimidate or harass innocent people, and is increasingly used against political figures. .
A presidential candidate, members of Congress, the judges, a federal prosecutor and a secretary of state were all victims of crushing. Buildings where politicians work have also been targeted.
Authorities responded to false threats to more than a dozen state Capitol buildings on Jan. 3, including Maryland, according to the Washington Post. These calls prompted the closure of buildings and a halt to state activities, even though no explosives were found and no one was injured.
In Annapolis, caller told police he was armed and heading toward the Capitol building to “shoot everyone” he saw, according to Annapolis police. The alarm triggered a militarized response from three agencies as teams of officers, guns drawn, searched for a threat and evacuated civilians from the three-story building, shutting down the legislative campus for two hours until until the weather was judged clear a few hours later.
Making a “false statement, report, or complaint regarding an emergency or crime” to police or other emergency officials is a misdemeanor in Maryland, punishable by up to to three years in prison and a fine. Penalties increase if law enforcement action results in the death or serious physical injury of a person.
So far, the Maryland Capitol Police, the main law enforcement agency, has not indicated whether it is investigating the incident as a swatting crime, according to a spokesperson. However, safety experts who study the phenomenon say the ordeal resembled a crash.
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“The idea is to get a massive response,” said Lauren R. Shapiro, an associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who teaches security. She said calls to crush can be made by individuals or groups and are increasingly used against people with opposing political views.
A day after Secretary of State Shenna Bellows excluded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from the Maine ballot, a false break-in report sent to police in his then unoccupied house. On two occasions, individuals called 911 to falsely report shootings at the home of presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Around the Christmas holidays, the authorities received a multitude of calls targeting political figures and senior government officials, including several Republican members of Congress and special counsel Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor investigating Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection and his possession of documents classified.
Shapiro described the crashes as “terrifying” events, not only for the victims, but also for the police who arrive on the scene on alert, ready to face a deadly threat. In addition to the psychological consequences, a false alarm like the one in Annapolis has an economic impact.
Shapiro estimates that such an event could cost tens of thousands of dollars in government resources, and surrounding businesses could lose if they are forced to close while police look for trouble. Additional financial and human resources will also be devoted to investigating the event, she said.
The crush spreads
“What we’re seeing is the proliferation of a technique,” said Greg Winger, assistant professor of cybersecurity and U.S. foreign policy at the University of Cincinnati.
Winger describes himself as a “traditional political scientist” who focuses on the link between international conflict and security. He said politically motivated swatting is the result of typical political discord migrating to the digital world.
And just like other online trends, it is spreading and attacks are increasing. becoming more sophisticated, he said.
It is not uncommon for callers to use digital technologies that can mask their location and conceal their voices, making it difficult for authorities to track them. And crush against service can be purchased through subversive internet communities or encrypted messaging channels and even paid with cryptocurrencies, he said.
Even more concerning is the credible threat of mass shootings and community violence that have become commonplace in American life.
Swatting is not unique to this country, Winger said, “but it is particularly dangerous in the United States, given the prevalence of guns, active shooter response and heavily militarized police response.” »
Maryland banned swatting
Maryland lawmakers have been trying to tackle the problem of swatting for years and joined forces to pass a bill last year making it a criminal offense punishable by prison time and fines. There is no federal law specific to crushing.
Sen. Cheryl Kagan, a lead sponsor of the bill, told colleagues last year that it was time to take the crushing issue seriously.
“Swatting is a crime and in Maryland we don’t treat it as such enough. There is a crisis,” said Kagan, a Montgomery County Democrat. “When people call with fake emergencies or false reports of shootings, it results in a massive police presence that proves unnecessary,” she said.
“It’s a waste of resources, it’s terrifying,” she said.
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What we know about Annapolis
Annapolis Police, Maryland State Police and the FBI are assisting the Maryland Capitol Police in the investigation, according to a Maryland Capitol Police spokesperson.
“Individuals found guilty of making threats in violation of state and/or federal law will be prosecuted,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, lawmakers signed a contract to an emergency text alert system it could warn people in and around the State House of security threats. The system could be operational in the coming weeks.
Baltimore Banner reporter Tim Prudente contributed reporting.