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Anti-Swatting US Congresswoman Targeted in Swatting Attack

posted by martyb on Thursday February 04 2016, @10:47AM   
from the more-than-just-a-40-year-old-TV-series dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Three months after she introduced the Internet Swatting Hoax Act in US Congress, Representative Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) found herself at the end of an apparent swatting attempt on Sunday night.

Melrose, Massachusetts police press spokesperson John Guilfoil confirmed to Ars Technica that the department received a phone call from "a computerized voice, not a natural voice" alleging "shots fired" and an "active shooter" at the address of Clark's home. The resulting police report confirmed an incident time of 9:57pm for a "life alert alarm" and "automated call reporting shooter."

This type of police report—using a disguised voice to allege false threats at a residence—is known as "swatting," due to the likelihood that police departments will react by sending SWAT teams to respond to serious-sounding threats. In the case of the Sunday night call, however, Guilfoil confirmed that Melrose police followed "established protocols" to choose a de-escalated response of normal police officers, though the officers in question blocked traffic on both ends of Clark's street with patrol cars. Guilfoil was unable to clarify whether weapons were drawn at the scene, and he did not answer our other questions about the incident, particularly those about the nature of the phone call received, "due to the ongoing nature of the investigation."

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Original Submission

• What is at the root of the problem? What is at the root of the problem? (Score: 5, Insightful) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Thursday February 04 2016, @03:49PM

  by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Thursday February 04 2016, @03:49PM (#299002) Journal

  Maybe if the police weren't stomping around like a frigging military force at war with the citizens they are ostensibly there to protect this swatting thing wouldn't be an issue.

  Note that I do not condone hoax emergency calls as a means of protesting this, or of protesting anything else for that matter.

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• Re:What is at the root of the problem? (Score: 2) by Vanderhoth on Thursday February 04 2016, @04:26PM

  by Vanderhoth (61) on Thursday February 04 2016, @04:26PM (#299014)

  I agree, but

  Note that I do not condone hoax emergency calls as a means of protesting this, or of protesting anything else for that matter.

  The fact that you actually have to tack this on to that statement, or be accused of supporting that action, is just sad.

  --
  "Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe

  Parent