Police say 13-year-old Tel Aviv boy was recruited by Iran and directed to carry out various activities via the Telegram application.
By World Israel News Staff
An Israeli teenager from Tel Aviv arrested recently on suspicion he acted as an agent of Iran, after having been recruited via the Telegram messaging application.
On Tuesday, the Israel Police and Shin Bet security agency issued a joint statement announcing that a 13-year-old resident of Tel Aviv had been arrested and interrogated as part of a criminal investigation against him, before being released to house arrested.
During his police interrogation, the teenage suspect revealed that Iranian operatives had contacted him via the Telegram messenger app and asked him to carry out several tasks in exchange for money, transferred to him online.
The minor told investigators that he agreed to their request and, following their instructions, sprayed graffiti in the Tel Aviv area, for which he received payments.
In addition, the minor was asked to photograph the Iron Dome system, but ultimately did not carry out this task.
At the end of his interrogation by the Fraud Division, he was released to house arrest after his parents were kept informed throughout the investigation.
The police and Shin Bet emphasize that intelligence and terrorist elements continue their efforts to recruit Israelis through social media for the purpose of promoting acts of terror in Israel.
“Accordingly, we again stress to parents of children that any connection with foreign entities and performing tasks for them is a serious offense that carries severe penalties,” the police department and Shin Bet said.” You must remain alert and cautious in order to prevent the next case.”
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