Montenegro police arrest Iranian accused of hacking US universities

Published on 26/06/2026 - 10:33 GMT+2

Police in Montenegro have arrested an Iranian-Turkish national wanted by the United States over alleged cyberattacks that authorities say caused more than $3.4 billion (€2.98 billion) in damage.

Police said the 39-year-old suspect, identified only as A.B., was detained on Thursday in the coastal town of Kotor in an operation carried out with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The man is wanted by a court in New York on charges including computer fraud, hacking, identity theft and organised crime, according to a police statement.

Montenegrin authorities alleged that from 2013 onwards, the suspect carried out "massive hacking attacks" on US infrastructure, including more than 150 universities.

The stolen data and compromised university accounts were allegedly used for the benefit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian beneficiaries, including universities.

The suspect is due to appear before a court in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, which will decide on the US extradition request.

In 2018, the US Department of Justice issued an indictment that accused nine Iranian nationals of hacking universities and other organisations to steal academic research and data.

US authorities have not said whether the latest arrest is connected to that case.

Additional sources • AFP, AP