Irish boy, 15, arrested over TalkTalk cyber attack

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the North in connection with a cyber attack on the website of telecoms company TalkTalk.

The arrest is the first major development since the company said last week it had been hacked, prompting warnings that bank details and personal information of four million customers may have been accessed.

The boy was arrested at an address in Co Antrim on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences yesterday.

Members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and detectives from the Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit carried out a search of the premises and enquiries are continuing.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said the arrest was in connection with the investigation into “alleged data theft” from the TalkTalk website.

The boy was taken into custody at a Co Antrim police station where he was expected to be interviewed.

A statement issued on behalf of TalkTalk acknowledged it was “a worrying time for customers” and it advised them to visit help2.talktalk.co.uk/oct22incident.

Shares in TalkTalk fell by 12% yesterday.