Spanish Police Arrest Two Youths Over AI Hoax Airport Bomb Threats

Spanish police have arrested two young individuals, including a minor, on suspicion of making hoax bomb threats at major airports and demanding a ransom. The suspects utilized advanced artificial intelligence tools to disguise their voices during the extortion calls.

The Incident and Security Disruptions

The case began last September when a series of alarming phone calls were received at the airports in Malaga and Valencia. The callers claimed that explosives had been planted on the premises and demanded a financial payment to prevent them from detonating. Following one of the calls, the Valencia airport immediately activated emergency and security protocols, causing temporary disruptions to its regular operations.

Technological Evasion and Arrests

Spain's National Police launched a comprehensive investigation and discovered that the suspects had made a significant technological effort to cover their tracks. Operating as virtual friends who met online, they used internet-based telephony services and opened accounts using stolen identity documents belonging to an unwitting third party.

The suspects manipulated caller IDs and deployed real-time artificial intelligence voice-changing software to mask their identities during the extortion attempts.

Last week, police forces raided the suspects' homes in Malaga and Murcia, confiscating computers, electronic devices, and digital wallets. The two detainees, a man in his twenties and a minor, are currently being investigated for threats, attempted extortion, and public disorder. Authorities confirmed that no money was ever transferred to the suspects.

Ongoing Investigation

Investigators are now assessing the economic damage caused by the flight disruptions and the mobilization of emergency security forces. Furthermore, authorities are probing whether the duo is linked to 'swatting' phenomena—malicious pranks involving false emergency reports designed to dispatch large police units to specific locations. The case has been transferred to the court and juvenile prosecution office in Malaga, while the suspects have been released under restrictive conditions as the investigation continues.