Suspected ShinyHunters hacker detained in Amsterdam after FBI data breach claims


By Henry Moore | 29 September 2026


An FBI agent stands near a security point at Los Angeles Stadium


Dutch police have arrested a 24‑year‑old man from Amsterdam on suspicion of being a member of the ShinyHunters cyber‑crime group that claimed to have obtained sensitive data from every FBI bureau staff member.


ShinyHunters says it accessed the names, badge numbers and personal details of about 38,000 FBI agents, including addresses and phone numbers. The alleged breach, carried out on 21 September, was publicly announced the following day.


The arrested suspect was taken into custody on 15 September, before the public claim. Police seized his devices and found records relating to two planned murders abroad, presumed to be connected to the hacker’s activities.


Stan Duijf, head of Dutch cybercrime investigations, praised the arrest as a significant step in a broader international effort against the group, while FBI officials in Washington are collaborating to build the case.


In a statement on X, FBI Director Kash Patel thanked partners in the Netherlands and urged any other members of ShinyHunters to surrender while the choice is still theirs.


ShinyHunters has previously breached major targets such as Rockstar Games and the education platform Canvas. Their latest exploit involved a vulnerability in an Oracle cloud storage system used by the FBI.