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Teenager, 16, arrested over cyber attack on NI schools IT system

Ground.News • April 15, 2026

A teenager has been arrested as part of an inquiry into a cyber security incident involving the Education Authority earlier this month.

A teenager was arrested in the Portadown area on Wednesday (April 15) as part of an investigation into a cyber attack involving the Education Authority.

He was arrested in the Portadown area and has since been released pending further enquiries

Detectives from the PSNI’s Cyber Crime Investigation Team arrested a 16-year-old male on suspicion of offences under Sections 1, 2 and 3A of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

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Teenager Arrested for Cyber Attack on Northern Ireland Schools' IT System A 16-year-old boy was arrested on April 15, 2026, in Portadown as part of an investigation into a cyber attack that disrupted the Education Authority's IT systems in Northern Ireland. The attack, reported on April 2, 2026, affected access to educational resources for potentially hundreds of thousands of students during the Easter holidays. The arrest was made under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and the teenager has since been released pending further inquiries. The cyber attack specifically targeted the C2K network, which is essential for curriculum support in schools across the region. The Education Authority has apologized for the disruption caused to students preparing for exams. The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing to assess the full impact of the incident. 15 sources 52

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