Dutch police arrest alleged ShinyHunters leader linked to murder plot

The arrest occurred on September 15, following a swift operation by the Dutch High Tech Crime Unit that resulted in the seizure of devices containing critical evidence. While the suspect, widely identified as Pepijn van der Stap, faces charges for his participation in the criminal organization, the investigation into the potential murder plot remains a separate, high-priority matter for law enforcement. Van der Stap, who served as chief technology officer at Neo Security, was taken into custody during a raid at his workplace and will remain detained for at least 90 days.

ShinyHunters has gained notoriety for high-profile intrusions into companies including AT&T, Ticketmaster, and Pornhub, frequently leveraging stolen data to extort victims. The group recently claimed to have breached the FBI’s own systems, allegedly accessing personal information and sensitive medical records of thousands of agents. Although the FBI has not officially confirmed the breach, the agency remains focused on dismantling the remaining members of the collective. Despite the arrest, a representative for ShinyHunters denied any professional association with Van der Stap, while the suspect remains under investigation for both his cyber activities and his alleged orchestration of violence.