Brazilian Police Arrest Suspect in Bitcoin Bomb Threat Case

TechFlow reported that on November 13, according to Bitcoin.com News, Brazilian civil police arrested 42-year-old Ítalo Francisco Mendes Barbiot following an investigation, with local media labeling him the "Brazilian Unabomber." He is suspected of sending dozens of death threat letters to financial executives in São Paulo and residents of luxury apartments. The correspondence outlined plans for drone attacks equipped with explosives and C4, included genuine explosive devices, and demanded recipients transfer 1.7 million Brazilian reais (nearly $300,000) in Bitcoin to a QR code address included in the letters.

Police identified the suspect by tracking his post office activity and reviewing surveillance footage showing him using a mobile app to pay for subway fares. The arrest also led to the resolution of another similar case, in which a suspect mailed ricin-contaminated letters to an executive at an unnamed cryptocurrency exchange and demanded a Bitcoin ransom. Mendes Barbiot admitted to responsibility for both incidents, stating he was driven by unemployment and financial distress. Authorities described the offender as a "lone wolf" and continue to investigate whether victims paid any ransom and whether additional associates are involved.